Chinnor had an unhappy visit to basement boys Barking, losing 36-24.

Chinnor rang the changes for the trip to Essex. Gray replaced Colver and Millett once again covered for the injured Cathcart. Hopwood came in for Jones. In the pack, Vickers came in for Waddingham, Tattersall for Holyland and Mountford made the bench.

The first score of the game came from Barking's Oliver Forrest with a penalty goal in the fourth minute after a poor clearance from Chinnor. Chinnor began to attack and Gilbert touched down for Chinnor in the 11th minute and Millett’s conversion gave the visitors a 7-3 lead. Millet himself then scored Chinnor’s second try five minutes later direct from line out ball. His conversion gave Chinnor a 14-3 lead. Chinnor continued to press but seemed to increasingly lose the ball in contact or through poor passing. They also continued to displease the referee Mr Manley who continued to award penalties at regular intervals against the visitors.

Barking, with some new recruits, grew in confidence and started to hassle and harry. They were rewarded in the 31st minute when a Chinnor attack broke down in midfield as a result of aggressive tackling. Barking pounced on the loose ball and a neat chip kick exposed the absence of the full back and Barking‘s Baflour-Awuah won the foot race for the touchdown. Forrest converted to reduce the deficit to 10-14.

On the 38th minute, Barking's other winger Hihetah was fed the ball from Forrest’s mazy run, again from an aggressive turnover in midfield, and scorched through for a try under the posts. Forrest converted to give Barking a half-time lead of 17-14.

Chinnor's Millett levelled the scores at 17-17 with a penalty goal just two minutes into the half. A promising 30 metre maul to near the Barking line from Chinnor led to nothing and Barking were the next to score when Hihetah easily ran through the defence for his second try converted by Forrest to go 24-17 ahead.

Barking visibly grew in confidence and were highly committed in every tackle and breakdown, denying Chinnor the ball for long periods. Tom Mowbray was then yellow carded for coming in from the side. However, from a quick tap penalty, Vickers took the ball up strongly and from the resultant ruck, quick ball found Hales gliding in for a try to Chinnor. Millett’s conversion squared the match at 24-24.

This just seemed to galvanise Barking who continued to attack and Hihetah shrugged off three weak tackles to score his hat-trick try and earn a bonus point for the home side, whose lead was now 29-24. Barking continued to play with pace and vigour and nailed the coffin shut for Chinnor when Fouracre waltzed through for a try on 75 minutes. Forrest’s conversion made the final score 36-24 for Barking’s first victory of the season.

This was a shock result for Chinnor given perhaps their best display of the season just the previous week. But nothing should be taken away from Barking who never let the boys from Oxfordshire settle and were good value for their victory. It was clear that the Barking side were highly motivated and Chinnor were perhaps a little complacent. The best side won and Chinnor will have to reflect on why it was not them.

Scorers:
Barking: Hihetah 3T; Baflour-Awuah T; Fouracre T: Forrest 4C; PG
Chinnor: Gilbert T; Hales T; Millett T, 3C

Chinnor team:
Gray (Mountford 70), Fielding, Goode, Stoop, Hales, Millett, Hopwood (Jones 60), Winpenny (Stock 50), Tattersall (Whelan 72), Berry, Smith, Mowbray (Hughes 65), Vickers, Sawyer, Gilbert
Replacements: Whelan, Stock, Hughes, Jones, Mountford