In a towering, epic encounter played out in front of a frenzied crowd of 2500 Chinnor came within seconds of downing runaway leaders Ealing. A Friday Night Lights occasion for the ages Chinnor entered the final 10 minutes with a deserved 15-7 lead. Two tries from a resurgent Trailfinders meant the heroic efforts from the in form Chinnor didn’t quite lead to their 5th successive win and a bonus point was little consolation after such a pulsating match.
In probably the most exciting scoreless half of rugby for many a season both teams had their periods of dominance and several chances to score, only to be thwarted by massive defence. Trailfinders started the game in imperious fashion and attacked with great intensity and speed. However hard the visitors strived they were pushed back with even more intense defence and when they did manage to bend the line some excellent scramble denied them scoring opportunities. Having managed to weather the storm in the first 15 minutes it was Chinnor’s turn to attack as they began to win possession from set piece. Nick Smith and Freddie Owsley combined dangerously down the left and Smith was inches short of the line. After another Scott Hall charge, livewire Will Cave came close after a chip and charge. Chinnor were now really knocking on the door, and a Callum Pascoe dart saw him held up. Chinnor had chances to open the scoring with easily kickable penalties but they opted for attacking lineouts. The half finished with another Chinnor multi phase surge eventually adjudged held up and an extraordinary half had finished 0-0.

Chinnor started the second half as they finished the first and continued to show real attacking threat. This was finally rewarded when a clever lineout move saw an unstoppable drive which was scored by the highly impressive Chris Moore, 5-0 after 45 minutes. Ealing immediately returned fire with their first try after a powerful surge from a 5 metres scrum by Hatherell, converted by Dan Jones, 5-7. Jones’s kicking was to prove the crucial in the final reckoning.

Chinnor of course showed their remarkable resilience as they were next to strike and retake the lead. A midfield breakl from the dangerous Tom Watson took play deep into Ealing’s 22, quick recycled ball and a superb 20 metre rainbow pass from Luke Carter playing at outside half found Sam Hanks in acres of space. Hanks strolled over to keep his hot try scoring streak running, 5 in 5. It was now 10-7 after 59 minutes. Chinnor were now having to reshuffle their back line after losing players to head knocks, Hatherell in particular seemed lucky to escape the wrath of the officials with some high looking tackles.

Chinnor ignored the setbacks and kept attacking and with the bench again adding real intensity they were winning plenty of ball and the contacts. Reminiscent of Tom Brady finding his receiver in the end zone a pinpoint kick from Pascoe picked out Grant Hughes in full flow and the flying Scotsman dived over to increase the lead to 15-7 on 63 minutes. Chinnor were losing more players to the intensity of the clash as Carter and Cam Rafferty both had to leave the field having come on as replacements. Chinnor were to receive another blow when Hughes turned villain and was (harshly) yellow carded for a late tackle.
Ealing immediately made the most of this advantage and put the game right back in the melting pot when Thompson scored from a driving lineout, converted by Jones from the touchline 15-14 on 73 minutes.

As the noise and tension reached fever pitch Ealing again attacked but a huge Chinnor scrum on their 22 gave them a penalty and a chance to wind the clock down with a kick to touch. Crucially the kick missed touch and Ealing ran it back coast to coast with Tobi Cousins finishing off the sweeping move under the posts, 15-21.

Although crestfallen Chinnor had a minute to mount a final attack. Ealing dropped the restart which would have given Chinnor a chance to show their scrum dominance but play continued and adjudged advantage over meant a titanic encounter went the way of the league leaders. An impressive comeback from the dead from Ealing but they knew they were pushed all the way by an incredible Chinnor display.

Chinnor- Rukhadze, Moore, Hardwick, Brockschmidt, Campbell, Dugmore © , Cave, Hall, Pascoe, Chamberlain, Owsley, Watson, Hanks, Hughes, Smith
Replacements- Owen, Walker, Coles, Rafferty, Ulcoq, Carter, Bourton, Passman.
Tries- Morre, Hanks, Hughes