See video highlights here:
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/chinnor/?section=videos_photos_view&video_id=2558

Photos courtesy of Pete Matthews

Ken Vaughan writes ...

A solid forward platform is an essential ingredient to have any chance of taking the spoils in a game of rugby. The fiery atmosphere of a local derby only but confirms this. Chinnor struggled in both the set scrums and line-outs and thus were unable to gain true momentum. Their cause was not helped by Joe Winpenny, normally a loose-head prop having to switch to the tight side. Not an easy task. With Ian Stock having to leave the field after 26 minutes play, to be closely followed by Angus Neilson, Chinnor's already stretched recourses were being tugged to the limit.

With Chinnor's University contingent touring in Japan, several changes to the starting line-up were the order of the day. Sam Jones and Christian Wade, both of Wasps Academy made their debuts at No.8 and right wing respectively, with Jack Wallace, another Academy player on the bench, Harry Jackman starting in the second row.

Chinnor chose to play into the breeze and although it was fairly evident from the start that they were going to have a tough time in the tight exchanges, they gave a good account of themselves in the first quarter. Territorially they were on par, the deadlock being broken in the 26th minute when Charlie Hobart kicked a penalty following a Chinnor offside. Chinnor then took the lead with a fine individual try from young Christian Wade. He took the ball some 35 metres from the try line and in beating three defenders, the first by sheer pace on the outside and then jinking inside the other two, he touched down near the posts allowing James Cathcart an easy conversion. Hobart then reduced the lead with another penalty 5 minutes into stoppage time to give Chinnor a 7 points to 6 interval lead.

With the wind at their backs, all appeared reasonably positive from a Chinnor perspective. However with possession almost drying up , they were forced to survive on scraps. The Henley scrum was becoming increasingly dominant, and with Chinnor failing to find their line-out jumpers they were continually on the back foot. A lot of plaudits here for Sam Jones who showed maturity beyond his years in trying to stabilise a scrum going backwards. It came as no surprise when Henley took the lead. After almost incessant pressure their influential No.8 and captain Matthew Payne forced his way over the line in the 57th minute. They added to this when David Clements scored from yet another series of forward drives. Immediately following this try, Chinnor brought on veteran prop Simon Matthews in the 68th minute. Obviously now not the swiftest person on the park, he nevertheless added a touch of solidity to the scrum that it had lacked most of the afternoon. Indeed it was evident that following his appearance the scrum assembled a degree of order. Although Chinnor endeavoured to play catch up rugby, the dye was already cast with local rivals Henley running out well deserved winners.

Not an easy day for Chinnor. There is no doubt that had they been able to gain a little more possession then the result could have been much closer. That James Cathcart only had one kick at goal in the second half, and that from the half-way line, illustrates where most of the game was played in this period. However, there were positives to come out of the match. Christian Wade, Sam Jones and Jack Wallace, who came on early on in the second half and showed his potential by taking a high ball under pressure almost immediately after taking the field, all had excellent starts in Chinnor colours. At the other end of the age map, a word of praise for Simon Matthews. A cameo of some significance