On a very blustery but clear day, Hartpury College overcame Chinnor 22-8 in a match most notable for incidents and errors.

Chinnor made several enforced changes for this match. With Gray, Seymour and Chase unavailable, a debut was given to Henry Swailes on the wing. Matt Goode was replaced by Leo Fielding in the centre and Frank Jones by Ricky Hopwood. Nick Harrison came in for Liam Gilbert and Evan Sawyer took the 7 shirt.

With the strong wind at their backs, Hartpury started brightly. Their first score came from Chinnor’s difficulty in dealing with a high ball which wobbled in the wind. From the dropped ball, Hartpury began a series of rucks which ended with Alex Dancer crossing for a try.

Shortly after, James Cathcart struck a penalty goal which, clearly over, left the three officials blankly staring at each other for what seemed an eternity. Without raised flags, the referee ruled against the home side to the mystification of the home crowd.

Chinnor battled to keep Hartpury out and matters boiled up with some foul play from the visitors on the 27th minute when a haymaker from Hartpury’s Moriarty put Chinnor skipper Winpenny convincingly on the deck. Seemingly having forgotten his red card, the referee Mr Michael Cooper, showed Moriarty yellow – and Winpenny as well, for good luck. The resultant penalty touch finder allowed the home side to relieve the constant pressure on their line.

Cathcart for Chinnor opened the home side’s account with a penalty goal on the 32nd minute to reduce the deficit to 3-5. Two minutes later, Chinnor went into the lead when a dart through midfield from Fielding saw quick recycled ball go across the park to Chinnor’s full back Henry Colver. Hauled down just short of the line, Colver retained the ball just long enough for tight head, Andy Berry, who with surprising agility and speed in support went over for Chinnor’s try. The conversion failed in the wind to leave Chinnor 8-5 up at the break.
Hartpury came out all guns blazing and scored within 2 minutes when Thomas barrelled over to put Hartpury back in the lead 10-8. They then scored two very similar tries in quick succession. Good approach work from the pack led to a number of quick phases ending with rapid ball across the backs for two tries in 10 minutes , one converted, both from winger Ian Clark. Chinnor was most unhappy with the first which involved three forward passes – the last of which was clearly advised to the referee by the touch judge by repeated message through the radio link.
Chinnor, now struggling even more with the referee’s interpretation of the laws and the stop-start nature of the game, could not get into the match and the last half an hour rather petered out to leave the visitors from Gloucestershire winners by 22-8.

It is not the habit of this correspondent to remark on referee performance but, given the number of serious errors made which affected, to some degree, the outcome of the match and the general dissatisfaction of both players and spectators, it is to be hoped that the video recording of the match is dissected by all those involved with referee and touch judge development.

Hartpury were a well drilled side and deserved the victory. Ageless Darren Crompton showed all the wiles of an experienced front rower and managed the referee very well. His opposite number is still bemused at how many involuntary penalties he conceded. Their lineout worked well and was a source of good ball for their backs to operate at high speed.

Chinnor competed well, when allowed to do so, and did well to go in ahead at half time. A slack 10 minutes let the visitors back in. Berry played well and made a number of speedy breaks. Sawyer did well, particularly in the line out

Scorers:
Chinnor: Berry T; Cathcart PG
Hartpury College: Dancer T: Thomas T; Clark 2T; Burns C

Chinnor team:
Colver, Swailes (Mountford 32), Fielding, Stoop, Corpe, Cathcart (Millet 64), Hopwood, Winpenny (Stock 47), Hoyland, Berry (Pickett 71), Mowbray, Smith (Hughes 47), Harrison, Sawyer, Kava
Replacements: Pickett, Stock, Hughes, Millet, Mountford