Chinnor’s last visit to Clifton in March resulted in an unexpected victory for the home side; an outcome which Chinnor were determined not to be repeated.
On a glorious day for running rugby Chinnor went straight into the attack, driving forward from a 5 metre lineout and spinning out second phase possession for winger Phil Chesters to score in the corner for an unconverted try.
Clifton responded well but were tackled just short of the try line and were then awarded a penalty which was converted by fly half, Leversley.
Jonny Bentley’s astute kicking maintained Chinnor’s presence deep in the Clifton’s half but unforced handling errors prevented Chinnor from scoring. The forwards’ pressure and drive took Ben Manning up to the try line where he was judged to be held up giving Chinnor a slender 3 – 5 point lead at half time.
Chinnor began the second half with both of their locks side lined with injury. They played an expansive game allowing centre Nawaqaliva to penetrate the Clifton defence. The supporting pack drove forward switching the direction of play allowing skipper Danny Barnes to power himself over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Minutes later full back Kieran Goss counterattacked with a 40 metre sprint down the right flank linking up with Barnes and Bentley who carried the ball up to the Clifton 22 metre line. The ball was then whipped out to the left wing for Phil Chesters to score his second try. Bentley converted to give Chinnor a convincing 3 – 17 lead.
Props Bingham and Price put in some impressive drives but Chinnor lost their dominance in the line out and lacked the possession required for further tries. Clifton’s Leversley made an outside break and took play up to Chinnor’s line where their skipper, No 8, Andy Chesters drove over for their first try converted by Leversley.
This gave Clifton the confidence to attack with scrum half Spencer taking a quick penalty and exploiting gaps in Chinnor’s defence. He linked with his forwards who put lock Harper over for a try converted by Leversley and bringing the scores level at 17 each.
Clifton deprived Chinnor of possession and a deft grubber kick by Spencer put the ball bouncing into Chinnor’s 22 metre area where Clifton collected the ball to put full back Roberts over for their third try in 13 minutes. Leversley converted for a 24 – 17 lead.
With six minutes to go Chinnor threw everything into attack with another Nawaqaliva break fuelling a forward drive towards Clifton’s try line where No 8 Alex Bradley was dispossessed. Chinnor’s determination and swift handling eventually allowed Nawaqaliva to squeeze through Clifton’s defence for a last minute, bonus point try which Bentley converted to draw the game.
Next week Chinnor face Henley at home in what promises to be an exciting encounter between the two local rivals at ‘fortress Chinnor’.