Chinnor’s young bucks earned them a bonus point win against Cleve from Bristol winning by 38-12 in an eventful match.

Chinnor were still on the bus as a simple passing move saw Cleve go 5-0 up in the 2nd minute courtesy of an unconverted try from full back Luke Fletcher. As Chinnor began to find their feet, a no arms tackle from Cleve’s Shack Ajuwa left Chinnor’s Ben Hewitt out cold. Referee Ed McWalter converted the original yellow card against Ajuwa to red for subsequent dissent. Hewitt was sent to hospital to be replaced on the field by Ben Farr.

A surging midfield break from Hastings fed Serrano for Chinnor’s first try, converted by Cathcart. On the 19th minute, Cathcart increased Chinnor’s lead to 10-5 with a penalty goal. The lead increased some three minutes later when, after good midfield play from Morgan, Corpe sliced through the home defence at great pace for a try, converted by Cathcart. Chinnor’s tactic of using their wingers paid dividends again as Serrano scooted over for a try, again converted by Cathcart. With a 25-5 lead, the remaining action of the first half was a yellow card for Chinnor’s Tattersall, infringing at a ruck.

For the second half, as the forwards continued their fractious game, Chinnor stuck with working their speedy young backs into the game. On the 43rd minute, Goode, with neat footwork, crashed over between the sticks. Cathcart again converted to give Chinnor a 31-5 lead. Chinnor then appeared to ease up and a period of great pressure from the home side put the Thame side’s pack under considerable pressure leading to a succession of penalties against the visitors. Referee McWalter objected to the rising number of offences by awarding Cleve a penalty try, converted by fly half, Joe Hall, giving a match score of 12-31 to the visitors and a yellow card for Chinnor’s Smith.

The last try of the game came from a delightful cross field dink from Cathcart, gathered by the speedy Corpe who fed Farr for a classy sprint to the posts. With Cathcart’s conversion, the game went to Chinnor by 38 points to 12.

Chinnor did well against a side struggling in the league who play with a tough and physical style and in fly half Hall had a useful kicker whose talents were underused.

The Chinnor pack did well in a tough encounter with the back row of Hastings, Harrison and Fan coping particularly well. Devine caught the eye with some fearsome tackles. The game was won by the backs with pace of Corpe and Farr’s challenging lines of running a constant threat. Morgan orchestrated well and Serrano was always in the right place.

Scorers:
Cleve: Fletcher T; Penalty Try; Hall C
Chinnor: Serrano 2T; Goode T; Corpe T; Farr; Cathcart 5C, PG

Chinnor team: Hewitt (Farr 10), Serrano, Goode, Morgan, Corpe, Cathcart, Prescott, Winpenny, Tattersall, Pickett, Hutchings (Devine 50), Smith, Hastings, Harrison (Devine 58), Fan
Replacements: Cawston, Devine, Farr