Chinnor 82 Cambridge 34
Chinnor produced a dazzling display of running rugby to finish their debut season on a high note in front of a massive crowd in full celebratory mood. Chinnor scored twelve tries which included four for the superb Luke Carter whose magisterial performance saw him awarded Man of the Match. Luke said “We were determined to put on a show for Willie’s last hurrah and it was really pleasing we delivered on that. After a tough run of fixtures we knew we had it in us to play some real heads up rugby and to score 12 tries in the Championship is no mean feat.”

Chinnor went straight into full attack mode from the kick off when Rob Hardwick and Carter linked brilliantly and some slick handling found Kieran Goss wide on the left with seemingly nowhere to go. However a brutal hand off took two would be defenders with it and the electric wing went over for his first of the match, Nathan Chamberlain converted and was to end up with 8 from 9 in no means easy conditions (Nick Smith kicked 2 from 2 and Alfie North, yes Alfie, finished 1 from1) A superb break in midfield by Dan Cooke on his very impressive full debut ended with Carter scooting home for his first try. Cambridge were showing some real fight and in their very efficient driving maul they had a real weapon. The visitors closed the gap with a Hema score and were attacking when a loose pass was picked up by Carter and he out stripped the defence with an 80-metre sprint to the line. That seemed to really take the wind out of Cambridge’s sails and Chinnor quickly notched up their bonus point and stretched to an emphatic 40-14 half time lead after Hughes dived over, Goss and Carter completed their braces and Lunny Walker finished off a driving maul.

Chinnor were determined to keep the pace up in the second half, Harry Dugmore ran back an exit kick with interest and a superb, mazy run by the elusive James Bourton saw him crash over on 42 minutes. The Blood and Sand refused to wilt and capitalised on Chinnor indiscipline to score a couple of driving maul tries. Any faint hope of a comeback was snuffed out when Scottie Hall charged down the Cambridge exit kick, picked up the loose ball and cantered under the posts, 54- 29.

Carter then scored the pick of his tries with a typical long-range break, he expertly chipped the full back and won the race with a dive to score. Callum Pascoe then got on the end of a barnstorming Morgan Passman break and took an inside ball to finish. This after he unluckily had conceded a yellow card for offside after being on the field for approximately 5 seconds. Will Cave scored the penultimate try after a driving lineout but it was fitting that Carter would finish off the scoring when he swooped on a loose ball and ran it under the sticks. On his last appearance for Chinnor the popular Alfie North converted the try on the final whistle.

A wonderful performance to finish off a compelling season where the team has competed hard in every match, roared on by a passionate crowd, defied expectations and attracted hugely deserved plaudits.

We bid farewell to some of the key members of our squad over the last several years- Keston Lines, Alfie North and Will Feeney who have all flourished as great team members and improved as players during their time at Chinnor and of course Captain Marvel Willie Ryan who deserved such a wonderful send off. The heartbeat of the team and club he’ll be sorely missed ...but opportunity knocks for the next generation…

Chinnor – Smith, Hughes, Bourton, Watson, Goss, Chamberlain, Carter, Ryan ©, Stokes, Dugmore, Hall, Cooke, Hardwick, Walker, Lines
Replacements- Cave, Rukhadze, Doak, North, Rafferty, Pascoe, Passman, Yandall
Tries- Carter (4), Goss (2), Hughes, Walker, Bourton, Hall, Cave, Pascoe,
Conversion- Chamberlain (8), Smith (2), North (1)
Man of the Match - Carter

Photo credit - David Howlett
Match report - John Vaughan