CHINNOR endured a day to forget as Old Elthamians secured victory in wet and windy conditions.

It was always going to be an afternoon where the Thame-based side would not only have to get the better of their hosts, but also the miserable weather.

However, they were never really at the races as the hosts deservedly ran out winners in a below-par National League 1 contest.

Danny Barnes’s 75th-minute try proved only a consolation for Chinnor as another of their longest-serving players Kieran Goss was denied a victory on his 100th appearance for the club.

The visitors had headed into the fixture looking to bounce back from the home defeat against Rotherham Titans the week previously.

Director of rugby Matt Williams made eight changes as captain Carl Kirwan returned to the XV.

Dan Southworth, Will Flinn, Pete Laverick and Goss were handed starts, while there were a handful of positional changes in the backs.

Sam Yawayawa was moved to the left wing, Jason Worrall to the right, with Barnes switched to outside centre.

The immaculate Eltham College pitches were immediately apparent on the visitors’ arrival, but the weather conditions ensured it would be a day predominantly for the forwards and box-kicking.

Chinnor, playing into the wind, were never really able to enjoy any territory in the first half.

It took only five minutes to be reminded of how poor the conditions were when Flinn’s box-kick was blown straight back towards the scrum-half and led to Elthamians spending most of the opening 40 minutes in the visitors’ half.

The hosts looked to kick behind Chinnor at every opportunity, but fly-half Tom White and full-back Louis Brown only succeeded in gifting the ball back to the visitors.

Elthamians had an opportunity to open the scoring on 11 minutes when they were awarded a penalty just over half-way. With the wind at his back, White opted for the sticks and there was nothing wrong with the length, but his attempt hit the right-hand post and bounced to safety.

Nine minutes later, the hosts did take the lead through the boot of White, but it was only a matter of moments before Chinnor levelled the game at 3-3 through fly-half Laurence May.

The hosts continued to dominate territory and went on to score their first try of the match. A quick offload led to winger George Perkins breaking through and he sent No 8 Mike Kovacic diving over, White converting.

Although Chinnor headed into the half 10-3 behind, they would have been confident of overturning the deficit with the wind in their favour, while Elthamians disappointed to not be further ahead.

The conditions were by no means easier at the start of the second period for either side, but the visitors were unable to use the blustery weather to their advantage.

May’s grubber had Elthamians scrambling towards their own try line on 52 minutes and White knocked on when attempting to gather the ball, however Chinnor could not make the most of a five-metre scrum.

The visitors’ back-line had seen very little of the ball, but showed glimpses of danger when in possession and leading try-scorer Jason Worrall looked to exploit some width after Goss had caught a clearance kick and triggered a counter, only to be tackled into touch.

Elthamians had sparingly ventured over half-way since the break, but extended their lead on 62 minutes.

White kicked to the corner after Chinnor were penalised at a ruck and a catch and drive led to hooker Nathan Morris touching down, White converting, to make it 17-3.

Just a couple of minutes later, White slotted a penalty to stretch the home side’s advantage to 17 points as the game looked beyond the visitors.

They were given a glimmer of hope with ten minutes to go when White was sin-binned following a high tackle on May.

Chinnor made the extra man count when Worrall sucked in a couple of defenders and spread the ball wide for Barnes to dive over in the corner. May was unable to convert from the touchline in the lashing rain and wind, but there was still time for another score as a losing bonus-point was still on the cards.

Instead, Elthamians went straight on the attack and centre George Eastwell dragged his penalty attempt wide of the right-hand post.

Chinnor ended the game deep in their opponent’s half, but were unable to drive over from two lineouts as they were left empty handed.

Old Elthamians: Brown, Hotston, Koteczky, Eastwell, Perkins, White, Claxton, Concu, Morris, North, Flashman, Batt, Saunders, Barton, Kovacic.
Replacements: Hay, Self, King, Morgan, Dockery.

Chinnor: Goss, Worrall, Barnes, Laverick, Yawayawa, May, Flinn, Southworth, Selway, McNulty, Thomas, Gray, Treviranus, Kirwan, W Ryan.
Replacements: Fidler, Petch, Marley, Moore-Aiono, C Ryan.