Suffering a number of injuries, Chinnor called on their younger squad players who did not disappoint in providing a 24-18 victory over visitors Bridgwater & Albion from Somerset.

Sam Angell made his starting debut for Chinnor and Andy Berry at tight head made his first (and significant) appearance for the home side.

On a bitterly cold day and with the biting wind at their backs, Chinnor started well but it was the visitors overturning ball near their own line that took the play to the Chinnor red zone. Chinnor defended manfully but eventually gave way to the pressure and Bridgwater flanker Rob Burnell drove over for the first score. With just 9 minutes gone and a successful conversion, Bridgwater led 7-0.

Chinnor immediately went on the attack but were thwarted by some illegal play such that Somerset referee Jonathan Healy carded two Bridgwater players within a minute of each other. The first saw blindside flanker Carl Brown carded on 15 minutes for not retreating 10 metres from a tap penalty. The second was against Bridgwater scrum half Dominik Griffin who quite cynically prevented a pushover try despite warning from the referee. Not only did Griffin’s action earn him a yellow card but it also gained a penalty try for Chinnor, converted by Cathcart to level the score at 7-7.

Cathcart attempted a 35m penalty which to all but the visiting touch judge appeared a sound score. After some hesitation, the referee ruled the score out, to the amazement of the crowd. Chinnor went ahead in the 37th minute when a barnstorming run by Chinnor’s Vickers was halted just shy of the try line. Quick recycling saw Goode blaze over and with Cathcart’s conversion, Chinnor went in at half time 14-7 ahead.

The first score of the second half came from the visitors when Williams slotted a penalty goal for a Chinnor ruck infringement. Just two minutes later, on the 54th minute, Bridgwater went ahead in the match when Chinnor succumbed to a sucker punch. A well worked Bridgwater lineout saw the ball switched to a runner down the tram tracks who flicked the ball inside to open side Burnell for a straight run to the line without a Bridgwater player being touched. Inexplicably, Williams missed the easy conversion but Bridgy were now 15-14 ahead.

Chinnor pressed and pressed the stout visiting defence without fortune until Cathcart, from 20m out dummied a pass and side stepped two defenders to score by the posts. Converting his own try, Cathcart restored the lead to Chinnor, 21-15. Having hit the cross bar with a previous drop goal attempt, Bridgwater, in the shape of fly half Osborne’s sweetly hit snap kick from 35 metres out, pulled the deficit back to 21-18.

The final score of the match went to Chinnor with Cathcart landing a 35m penalty in the difficult wind to give a final score of 24-18 to Chinnor.

Bridgwater proved to be worthy and difficult opponents. Chinnor will be pleased with their pack, although referee Healy’s unsympathetic refereeing of Chinnor’s front row dominance will have irked. The back row were busy and Vickers again caught the eye with his barnstorming pugnacity. Andrew Smith at lock was again masterful in both the loose and the tight. Andy Berry making his debut for the 1st XV looked very comfortable. Chinnor’s young backs did well with Angell showing neat hands but Cathcart stole the honours with a try, a penalty goal and three conversions. All in all, it was a great improvement from the previous week.

Scorers:
Chinnor: Penalty T; Goode T; Cathcart T; 3C, PG
Bridgwater: Burnell 2T; Williams C, PG; Osborne DG

Chinnor team: Williams, Morgan, Goode, Angell (Green 67), Corpe, Cathcart, Hopwood, Winpenny, Cawston, Pickett (Berry 32), Hutchings, Smith, Vickers, Harrison (Devine 67) Hastings
Replacements: Berry, Devine, Green