The 4-hour journey to Barnstaple could be used as an excuse, but the reality is that Barnstaple didn't lie down in this great game as Chinnor extended their run to 10 wins from 10 starts this season..... just!

Playing into the sun, Chinnor started brightly and for 10 minutes Barnstaple were pinned back in their own half, but Chinnor couldn't convert this pressure into points.

Barnstaple's first visit to the Chinnor half resulted in a unconverted try and Will Topps kicked through putting Harry Colver under pressure as he ran the ball into touch. The resulting line out was very well executed by Barnstaple with No 7 Winston James breaking the Chinnor line off the back of the catch and drive to score in the corner. The try was not converted.

Chinnor slowly started to shake off the stiff legs from the coach journey as they realised they were in a game that would need hard work to win. The pack started to dominate in the set piece and from this hard work came the first Chinnor try as the Barnstaple scrum went backwards, the ball was picked up and Chinnor stormed over for their first try. Cathcart; whose field kicking was excellent all day, converted the try with ease.

Chinnor now started to turn the screw and every time Barnstaple pushed into Chinnor's half the clearance kick from Cathcart sent Barnstaple back into their own 25. Once their the pressure from the Chinnor front five in the set piece resulted in penalties which were meat and gravy to Cathcart who clearly brought his best kicking boots with him.

At half time Chinnor had extended their lead to 16 - 5 and the visiting supporters thought that this game was in the bag. Barnstaple clearly did not agree with this view because they came out for the second half with all guns blazing.

Within 4 minutes of the start of the second half Mark Galliford scored under the posts with a very well executed try which was applauded by all spectators. The try was converted - 12 - 16 and all of a sudden a new game was emerging.

With a big local crowd cheering for more, Barnstaple were galvanised into action with the Barnstaple pack applying significant pressure to the dominant Chinnor pack which equalised the set pieces. Three penalties were conceded by Chinnor of which 2 were converted and now the score was 18 - 16 to Barnstaple after 53 minutes and Chinnor were looking at their first defeat of the season.

The Chinnor captain was heard exhorting his players not to panic and to stick to their game plan; which started to deliver benefits. Making sure that Barnstaple were always playing from their own 25 by using Cathcart's monumental boot resulted in pressure being applied at the breakdowns and set pieces.

The match winning try came after 59 minutes when a poorly executed line out by Barnstaple resulted in Chinnor winning the ball against the throw. Barnstaple tried hard to correct the problem, but eventually the ball was spun out across the Chinnor backs where eventually Matt Goode was on hand to claim the glory. Of course, Cathcart converted and the score was now 18 - 23 with 20 to go.

Chinnor were now under significant pressure as Barnstaple threw everything at them for the last 20 minutes. But Chinnor's pack and defensive excellence meant that the line couldn't be crossed. Chinnor's discipline in the last 20 to not give away a penalty even when under such pressure was superb.

Chinnor can consider that this was a big banana skin game that if the Barnstaple kicker had been a little more on song could have been even harder to win. But that being said with a number of high profile players missing, it was a great team performance and a fantastic game for both sets of supporters to watch on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Finally, as usual the reception from Barnstaple to the Chinnor supporters was warm, friendly and full of good old rugby banter. We look forward to seeing some of them back at Kingsey Road later in the season.