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On a bone dry, hard and dusty pitch in humid Berkshire, Chinnor played brightly for the first 30 minutes of the match but allowed a combative Redingensians side to come back to win the match by 23-20.

Already struck with a large number of injuries, Chinnor lost Ben Hewitt with hamstring problems on the evening of the match.
This allowed the debut of Ben Farr on the left wing, with Alex Wallace covering at full back.

Farr made his presence felt just 4 minutes into his debut, touching down to complete a sweeping move which seemed to involve every Chinnor player. Not to be outdone, Redingensians scored their own unconverted try through prop James Bayer pouncing on a loose lineout ball. Just a few minutes later, Hewitt for Chinnor put the visitors ahead with a penalty goal. On the 16th minute, after a series of rolling mauls, the ball was passed to Chinnor right winger James Serrano, who crashed over near the posts for a converted try. This put Chinnor ahead 15-5. This seemed to get under the skin of the hosts as a series of penalties against them resulted in 10 minutes in the bin for lock Sam Hallet. On the 28th minute, Chinnor then went further ahead through hooker Simon Tattersall’s try to lead 20-5.

At this point Chinnor seemed to go off the boil and had now completed their scoring for the day despite many further penalty opportunities which were spurned.

It was different story for Redingensians, who came back into the match in dramatic fashion just before half time scoring two tries and a conversion through No 8 Robbie Stapley and centre Sebastian Reynolds. Stapley took the ball from the base of a scrum and scooted through the Chinnor defence without a hand being laid on him. It was Stapley, with his bullocking runs, that now turned the match in Redingensians’ favour. On several occasions, his storming runs turned defence into potent attack. Half time came at 20-17 to Chinnor.

After half time, scoring points became much more difficult but particularly so for Chinnor where Hewitt had no luck with 5 attempts at goal. Redingensians kept up the pressure with fly half Spike Chandler hoisting garryowens at will. After just too many misdemeanours, Redingensians’ other lock Owen Root was sin binned. Chinnor felt themselves harshly penalised when a cross kick to an unmarked Farr was adjudged offside. Two more penalty goals from Spike Chandler saw Redingensians to a 23-20 home win.

Chinnor missed too many tackles and attempts at goal to build on their bright start. Redingensians’ fly half Chandler with his full complement of kicks and the power of No 8 Stapley were the difference.

Chinnor team: Wallace, Serrano, R Williams, Hewitt J, Farr (Cathcart 73), Chase, Jarvis, Winpenny, Tattersall, Stock (Cawston 73), Gilbert, Black, Hastings, M Williams (Jackman 55), Mowbray.
Reps: Cawston, Jackman, Cathcart