Ken Vaughan writes ...

Two key moments towards the latter stages cost Chinnor dearly at Kingsey Road on Saturday. Trailing by just 7 points, they had an attacking scrum just 15 metres out from the Richmond line. Richmond were allowed to disrupt the Chinnor put in and scramble the ball away to safety. Then minutes later, Chinnor, instead of keeping the ball in hand some 35 metres from the Richmond goal line, elected to put up a kick, which was easily fielded inside their opponents 22 allowing Francois Van Schalkwyk to call a mark. Expecting a kick to touch, they were totally off guard when the winger ran the ball resulting in a try some seconds later with the Chinnor defence at sixes and sevens. That Matt Hart, who only missed one kick all afternoon, converted from the touchline only rubbed salt into the wound. So looking at a bonus point at least, with just minutes to go, they were left with nothing. This was cruel in that Chinnor had fought hard in an endeavour to claw the game back after front rowers Arthur Ellis, who ran superbly for his try, and Joe Winpenny who forced his way over in the corner, had given them heart.

Chinnor made just the one change with Ben Hewitt coming into the centre for the absent Trevor Powell, Chris Mahony going from the wing to full back and Tom Shiel starting on the wing. Chinnor started superbly going close on two occasions before Hewitt and Mahony combined to carve out an opening allowing Richard Williams to score in the corner. This was in the second minute and when James Cathcart added a penalty 5 minutes later Chinnor were 8 points to the good. Matt Hart then kicked two penalties in the 10th and 17th minutes. Both Cathcart and Hart then exchanged penalties and with 4 minutes to go before the interval Chinnor had their noses just ahead. Richmond were now beginning to control the set pieces and after a pressurising the Chinnor line, Kris Greene, their lively scrum half, spotted a gap and went over near the posts allowing Hart an easy conversion. This meant that Chinnor were 5 points adrift at the half-time whistle.

For the first 5 minutes of the second period, Chinnor found it most difficult to get their hands on the ball. Chinnor then had a put-in at the scrummage some 7 metres from their line. Richmond, who were now causing a few problems up front, caught Chinnor in possession on their line. In the resultant melee and with bodies everywhere, the referee decided that Richmond had scored. It was not evident who had conjured this try, but with the Richmond players congratulating their No.3. the conclusion was reached that it must have been Nick Gaskell. Not to be denied, Chinnor then scored when Arthur Ellis intercepted a pass to run some 55 metres, and though hotly pursued by winger Jo Ajuwa, managed to shrug off his tackle to score a fine individual try. It was then Richmond's turn again when Ajuwa turned on the after burners to outstrip the Chinnor defence and score wide out. Hart added the conversion. Joe Winpenny was next to keep the Chinnor hopes alive when he took a pass from Ben Hewitt to touch down in the corner. When Winpenny took the pass he still had it all to do but he dipped his shoulder and went over in fine style.

With 17 minutes left at this stage and the score 28 points to 21 in Richmond's favour it was still all to play for. However the odd wrong option caused Chinnor grief in the final stages and this was compounded by a Richmond try, out of nothing, at the end of the game.

There was no doubt that Richmond deserved the win. They starved Chinnor of possession at many phases and were quite clinical in their finishing. Matt Hart, their captain was an influential and shrewd player who controlled the Richmond tactics at all times. Chinnor's fate, at this level, lies in their performance next Saturday against the all conquering London Scottish who, no doubt, will wish to finish the season unbeaten and hence award Chinnor no favours. Looking for omens? Well last season Barking had to win against an unbeaten Mounts Bay to stay in National 3. Against all odds they did just that. Who knows, there could be a repeat. An unfancied Chinnor had the better of high flying Ealing. Is there a sting in the tail? Now that would be the stuff that dreams are made of!