In a match that saw the lead change hands five times, Chinnor left Bristol in second place going down 39-35 to Ding’s Crusaders.

For the first 20 minutes or so, Ding’s Crusaders dominated play with accurate ball retention and good field position. Crusaders’ full back Mark Woodrow opened the scoring with a simple penalty goal in the 8th minute. They increased their lead to 10-0 in the 12th minute when, turning down an easy penalty kick at goal, they went for a successful catch and drive in the corner, Dave Bufton touching down for the try with Woodrow converting.

Cathcart began Chinnor‘s score in the 12th minute with a penalty goal to make the match score 10-3 in favour of the home side. In the 19th minute, Chinnor were fortunate not to go down by a further score when Ding’s James Oakley scythed through the middle only to deliver a forward scoring pass. On the 21st minute, Chinnor’s Stoop was yellow carded for preventing the release of the ball at a promising Ding’s attack. From the resultant scrum, Ding’s Steve Plummer went over for their second try which was surprisingly not converted by the otherwise impeccable Woodrow to go ahead 15-3.

At this point, Chinnor woke up from their slow start and with a forceful maul down the centre of the park, the ball went wide to a ruck from which Chinnor was awarded a penalty. From the kick for a lineout, Chinnor mauled well and then rapidly recycled the ball through Cathcart and Gray for Colver to crash through under the posts for Chinnor’s first try of the afternoon on 28th minute. Cathcart’s conversion reduced the deficit to 15-10 to the home side. Four minutes later, Chinnor were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Cathcart transformed into two points and reduced Dings lead to 15-13. Chinnor kept up the attacking momentum and although a promising attack on left broke down just short of the line, the ball was recycled quickly and a cross-kick from Cathcart was athletically grounded for a try by Gray on the opposite flank in the 36th minute allowing Chinnor to go in 18-15 ahead at the halftime break.

Just three minutes into the second half, Ding’s ran a kick straight back through the centre of the field and two quick passes later Bufton touched down for Ding’s third try, converted by Woodrow for a 22-18 lead. On the 49th minute, home winger Taylor Stevens was yellow carded for batting the ball away during a promising Chinnor attack. Chinnor then attacked and were rewarded with a penalty which Cathcart converted to put Chinnor ahead by 21-20. From the restart, Dings kicked long down the centre of the field. Gilbert returned the kick, and, following up, managed to toe punt the ball further towards Crusaders line. Gray won the footrace to gather the loose ball and touch down in the corner. Cathcart did well to convert from wide out to put Chinnor ahead 28-22.

In the 66th minute Dings came back with try from flanker Steve Uren from a scrum in front of Chinnor’s posts. Woodrow’s conversion returned the lead to Dings 29-28. From the restart, a lost ball gave Chinnor a scrum under their own posts. They failed to clear the ball from the base of the scrum and were penalised. Woodrow increased the lead to 32-28. Just a minute later, from a lineout ball, Dings weaved some backs magic to put through Woodrow for a try, which he converted, to increase the Dings lead to 39-28. With 5 minutes left on the clock, Chinnor grabbed a late try from Leo Fielding. Colver’s conversion reduced the deficit to 39-35 as time ran out for the visitors.

To a neutral, this was a wholly entertaining game with end to end stuff and each side scoring at least one corker of a try. Dings looked, in the first twenty minutes, to be running away with it but Chinnor responded strongly to go in ahead at half time. The difference between the sides was the skill of Dings’ Mark Woodrow who kicked magnificently and whose skilful running and passing set up several scores. Plaudits go to referee Mr Phil Watters for his unfussy management of the game.

Chinnor seemed to commit too many errors at critical times, particularly in the last 10 minutes, to allow Dings to gain easy territory from which they scored. Sawyer was busy for Chinnor but Gray again stood out.

Next week Chinnor face Shelford, currently lying second in the league.

Scorers:
Dings Crusaders: Bufton 2T; Plummer T; Uren S T; Woodrow T, 4C, 2PG:
Chinnor: Colver T; Gray 2T; Fielding T; Cathcart 3C, 3PG

Chinnor team:
Colver, Fielding, Goode, Stoop, Gray, Cathcart (Millet 70), Hopwood, Winpenny, Holyland (Stock 53), Berry (Whelan 40), Mowbray (Hughes 68), Smith, Gilbert, Sawyer, Kava
Replacements: Whelan, Stock, Hughes, Millet, Corpe