After an early scare, Chinnor overcame local side Amersham and Chiltern, recovering from 16-0 down to win 39-16.

Chinnor were metaphorically still in the changing room when Amersham and Chiltern scored the first try of the match in the 40th second of the game. Retaining the ball from the kick-off, Chiltern moved the ball rapidly to left wing Jerry Rice who dotted down in the corner. With Bugden’s conversion, the Bucks side were 7-0 up with just one minute on the clock.

Chiltern kept up the pressure on the home side and 10 minutes later scored the first of a triple set of penalty goals from the reliable boot of Ross Bugden. By the half hour, Chinnor were shell shocked and Amersham and Chiltern were 16-0 up.

Chinnor then began to settle down. A midfield penalty against the visitors from Bucks on the 32nd minute led to a catch and long drive to the line, with Gilbert touching down for Chinnor's first try. With Cathcart's conversion, Chinnor trailed by 7-16 at the interval.

The halftime talk clearly galvanised Chinnor who now came out all guns blazing. With the wind now at their backs, Chinnor pressed the Chiltern line. Inches from the line, the referee gave the visiting Rice a 10 minute rest for lying over the ball. The catch and drive from the resultant penalty saw Gilbert again touch down on the 48th minute for Chinnor's second try of the day to reduce the deficit to 16-12 to Chiltern. Chinnor took the opportunity to replace Mowbray with Ramsdale.

Awarded a penalty on the halfway line, Cathcart made excellent use of the breeze to slot a penalty goal for Chinnor to reduce Chiltern's lead to just one point, 16-15. On the 64th minute, Chinnor got a slight nudge forward at a scrum on the Chiltern's 22m line. A wayward pass was expertly collected by Goode whose arcing run allowed him a simple try under the posts, easily converted by Cathcart to allow Chinnor to take the lead for the first time in the match by 22-16. Three minutes later a penalty goal from Cathcart increased Chinnor's lead to 25-16. At this point Chinnor brought on Whelan for Pickett and Prinsloo for Williams.

Prinsloo’s first touch was most significant. A precise cross field kick from Cathcart was neatly fielded by Prinsloo who, in one motion, collected he ball, sidestepped his marker and slipped a pass inside. Two more inside passes later saw Harrison cantering through the posts for Chinnor's bonus try. With Cathcart's conversion, Chinnor now held a 32-16 lead. A few minutes later, left wing Colver came into midfield looking for work and accelerated on to a short pass to slice through the opposing defence for a score under the posts. Cathcart converted to give a final score in favour of Chinnor of 39-16.

Amersham's intensity from the start of the match took Chinnor by surprise and for the first half-hour the visitors were in control of the match, belying their low position in the league. Fortunately for Chinnor, a degree of patience and intelligence was rediscovered and they systematically came back into the match. At one point the visitors from Bucks were 16-0 ahead. Chinnor did well then to halt further scores and pile on 39 unanswered points.

The wind was a significant factor in the match and a number of prodigious touchfinders from Cathcart helped turn the match in Chinnor's favour. Chiltern’s kicker, Bugden, was also reliable with the boot and Chiltern scrum-half Polataivao was a constant threat throughout the match for Chinnor. Chinnor will be pleased that their forwards got them back into the match with Gilbert maintaining his average of a try per game and for some moments of sheer class from the backs.

Scorers:
Chinnor: Gilbert 2T; Goode T; Harrison T; Colver T; Cathcart 4C, 2PG
Amersham & Chiltern: Rice T; Bugden C, 3PG

Chinnor team:
Gray, Williams (Prinsloo 69), Goode, Stoop, Colver, Cathcart, Jones, Winpenny, Tattersall, Pickett (Whelan 68), Jackman, Smith, Mowbray (Ramsdale 49), Harrison, Gilbert
Replacements: Whelan, Ramsdale, Prinsloo