Yet another close game. Midway through the second half, with Chinnor just two points adrift, and the gusting South Westerly at their backs, it looked very much game on. They had already gone agonisingly close when first Darren Oxley was held up over the line and seconds later Toby Prescott was adjudged to have spilled the ball over the line. Their only reward for this pressure was a penalty in front of the posts for a Park deliberate knock-on. As the referee was unable to identify the culprit, he could not award a yellow card which is customary for such an offence. With Chinnor now adopting a policy of all out attack to secure a result they left themselves open to the counter punch which Park duly applied in the dying minutes of the game.

With Pip Seymour, Alex Wallace, James Cathcart, Richard Williams, Arthur Ellis, Bob Baker and Angus Neilson all unavailable, Chinnor had to dig deep into their resources. Tim Price, making his debut, came in at full-back, Toby Prescott went onto the wing. Chris Rowley started at scrum half and Alan Cawston took over the hooking duties.

Rosslyn Park started with the wind and were soon on the attack. Fly-half Dylan Pugh, with an educated left boot made full use of the wind, pinning Chinnor in their 22 and keeping them under pressure. With Chinnor under the cosh, mistakes inevitably occurred, with Pugh taking full advantage slotting penalties in the 6th and 10th minute. Chinnor responded well and after going close with a series of pickup and drives near the Park line were rewarded when Darren Oxley put in a delicate chip for Ben Hewitt to gather and score under the posts. Unfortunately Hewitt in attempting to drive the conversion into the wind narrowly missed the upright. It was then all Park, who recognising that time was running out, and they had not made the best of the conditions, spurned several kicks at goal in favour of keeping the ball close to the Chinnor line. Eventually this tactic came to fruition when full back Chris Simmons came into the line at a good running angle to score under the posts. With Pugh adding the conversion Park had an eight point advantage at half-time.

Chinnor came out full of intent at the start of the second half with play predominantly taking place in Park territory. A penalty goal by Hewitt in the 56th minute clawed back the deficit and with Oxley coming in on an overlap, taking a return pass from Prescott and heading for the corner it looked like Chinnor were on level terms. However an excellent cover tackle denied the score. With Prescott not being given the benefit of a touchdown just minutes later and Chinnor's reward for all this pressure being a penalty in front of the sticks, they felt hard done by. A try by Aimo Tuaialo in the dying minutes sealed the game for Park.

Chinnor will be wondering if and when the tide will turn in their direction. They have fought hard with considerable skill on occasions, particularly this week with a much changed side due to unavailability. However luck, that most important of ingredients, is not favouring them at present. After the Richmond and now the Rosslyn Park game which were both such close encounters the rub of the green might turn and favour the Chinnor boys. It is to be hoped so.

Video highlights can be found at https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/chinnor/?section=videos_photos_view&video_id=1103