Chinnor, in their last match of the season, cemented sixth place in their return to National 2 South despite losing 27-19 to Shelford from Cambridgeshire.

With a number of injuries and unavailabilities, Chinnor were forced to make some radical changes to their usual starting 15. Veteran prop, Simon Matthews, came into the front row for only his second game of the season. Trevor Powell, sporting a 20-stitch mouth wound suffered the previous Wednesday came into the centre to partner Henry Colver playing in an unusual position at 13. James Cathcart returned at fly half for his first match after a long layoff.

The first score came in the 3rd minute from a penalty goal from Rory Hutchinson to put the home side 3-0 ahead. On the sixth minute, Cathcart, for Chinnor, squared the match at 3-3 with a penalty goal from the 22 metre line.

On the 20th minute, the Shelford pack put together their trademark rolling maul from a penalty lineout to score the first try of the afternoon with Grey touching down. Hutchinson's conversion put Shelford 10-3 ahead. Chinnor came back with a penalty goal from Cathcart three minutes later to close the match to 10-6.

On the 30th minute, another Shelford rolling maul, this time from 30 metres, saw Beswick score Shelford’s second try of the day for a halftime score of 15-6 to the Cambridgeshire team.

Just two minutes into the second half, Chinnor dropped the ball in midfield. Shelford’s Hutchinson was first to the ball, fly hacking it twice downfield for an easy try. Converting his own try, Hutchinson put Shelford ahead 22-6. Chinnor then gifted Shelford a similar try just two minutes later. Dropping the ball wide out, Shelford’s winger Scott had the simple task of picking up the ball to run to the line for the bonus point try and a match score of 27-6.

Chinnor’s luck began to change with a series of promising attacks. From one of them Chinnor worked the ball rapidly from right to left to find Gilbert in acres of space. He cantered over for Chinnor’s first try of the afternoon on the 50th minute. Seven minutes later Cathcart closed the gap to 27-14 with a penalty goal. Chinnor kept up the pressure and, from a penalty lineout, showed that they could also roll a maul with Berry touching down to make the score 27-19.

Chinnor looked certain for a try when Fielding, one of the quickest men on the Chinnor team, broke the defence and looked to have a simple trot to the line. To everyone's astonishment, particularly Fielding’s, he was hauled down 10m from the line by the rapid Shelford prop known as Tugboat. The match finished at 27-19 to Shelford.

Missing so many regulars and carrying a number of injuries, Chinnor, after a poor start came back into the game but left it all too late. The unfortunate Powell, starting with a significant mouth injury, sustained an entirely different one to the only part of his mouth which was not already swollen and was forced to leave the pitch in some discomfort. Gilbert was the pick of the visiting side. Shelford, with a powerful pack, particularly at the maul, were strong in defence and took their opportunities well.

Scorers:
Chinnor; Gilbert T; Berry T; Cathcart 3PG
Launceston: Grey T; Beswick T: Hutchinson T; Scott T; Hutchinson 2C, PG

Chinnor team:
Ricky Hopwood Leo Fielding, Henry Colver, Matt Mountford, James Cathcart, Will Millett, Frank Jones, Simon Matthews, Simon Tattersall, Andy Berry, Sam Blewitt, Andrew Smith, Tom Mowbray, Nick Harrison, Liam Gilbert
Replacements: Tom Whelan, Matt Holyland, Ed Vickers, Adam Hastings, Will Millett