Chinnor got back to winning ways with a sparkling display of running rugby in the warm spring sunshine at Kingsey Road. The 3 week break had seemingly done the boys a whole lot of good mentally and physically as they played with speed and accuracy in front of an appreciative, bumper crowd, Caldy played a full part in the high octane, ding dong encounter scoring 6 tries with 4 in the first 30 minutes but ultimately it was Chinnor who stretched their lead with a dominant second half performance.

Chinnor opened the scoring in the first 5 minutes after a huge Kai Owen hit in midfield turned the ball over and a quick transition saw a powerful burst from the returning Tom Watson before he fed Brodie Robinson who scorched home from 20 metres and managed to round the defence to score under the posts, converted by debutant Richie Simpson 7-0.

Simpson enjoyed an accomplished first run out at 10 for Chinnor converting 5 tries and controlling the game well. The Ravens immediately struck back with a powerful driving maul scored by Heran who would finish with a hat trick.

Chinnor seemed to bounce back after a scything 50 metre break from Simpson got him to within touching distance of the line, but his scoring pass went to floor and was hacked downfield with Hyde winning the race to score in the corner and a 12-point swing to Caldy, 7-10. Chinnor didn’t let this set back affect them and they struck back on 18 minutes when Will Cave burrowed over from a driving maul to regain the lead, 12-10. Cavey finished with a hat trick of his own, just reward for a superb all-round game.

Back came the Ravers in this halter skelter game as they ran back a Chinnor box kick, attacked the blindside and retook the lead, 12-17. It got worse for Chinnor as another powerful Caldy driving lineout ended with Hearn’s score and at 12-22 down after 30 minutes Chinnor were looking vulnerable.

But again, it was Chinnor that showed character and resilience to bounce back from these setbacks. They started playing with precision and intensity to score 3 tries in 10 minutes either side of half time that wrestled back the initiative and saw them open a 31-22 lead after 43 minutes. First it was Izzy Wharton who powered over from close range after a Luke Carter break, followed by Chris Moore touching down on the stroke of half time from a Jamie Campbell lineout and drive, 26-22 at Half Time. Cave got his second straight after half time and Chinnor looked to be in the driving seat, 31-22
Caldy again showed their ability to counter from transition as they ran back a kick from deep in their own half to score under the posts and bring the game back into the melting pot, 31-29.

Chinnor again showed their bouncebackability with the next two tries. Scott Hall made good yardage off the back of a lineout move and opened a gap for Callum Pascoe to dive over with his first touch of the ball, 38-29.

Chinnor’s forward power was now very much in evidence, and this meant they could dominate field position and territory. Another lineout maul won deep in Caldy’s 22 was initially repelled but after a series of pick and drives Will Cave came from deep on a super line to crash over under the posts and notch his hat trick and seemingly put the game to bed, 45-29 after 70 minutes. Caldy hit back with a Wilkinson cross kick to Hyde on 75 minutes, 45-29.

Chinnor were too dominant in the forward exchanges to give Caldy a glimpse of a late revival and a James Bouton penalty on 77 minutes put the icing on the cake, 48-36.

A game played at a breakneck speed on a hard, fast track in warm weather made the last Chinnor home match against Doncaster in the wet and mud seem aeons away. The pace of the first 40 minutes with end-to-end attacks and 8 tries was always going to be difficult to maintain and Chinnor showed the game management to get a stranglehold on proceedings in the second stanza with a dominant set piece and powerful ball carrying to come away with a deserved 5 points.

Nick Easter “Very pleased with our set piece accuracy and the performance of the front 5 and we were much better in the red zone. The break was needed and the boys looked refreshed and raring to go. We’ll need to tighten up our defence from kick returns, but it was pleasing to see us put some super rugby together.”

Chinnor - Owen, Moore, Hardwick, Campbell, Brockschmidt, Dugmore, Cave, Whartom, Carter ©, Simpson, Goss, Watson, Hanks, Robinson, Smith
Replacements- Rukhadze, Walker, Porter, Ryan, Maine, Hall, Pascoe, Bourton

Tries- Cave x3, Moore, Robinson, Wharton, Pascoe
Cons- Simpson x 4, Smith
Pens- Bourton

Report John Vaughan
Photo Simon Cooper