Video highlights are here: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/chinnor/?section=videos_photos_view&video_id=5181#_

James Cathcart’s boot scored 17 of Chinnor’s final total of 22 points which was just one more than their hosts, Reading. Having been beaten by just two points (12-10) at the beginning of the season, Reading must be fed up with seeing the black and white hoops of Chinnor.

In a match in which Chinnor dominated territory, they just couldn’t score points when they had the opportunity – which they had frequently. With Ben Farr unavailable, Mark Chase began on the wing and Simon Matthews began in the front row.

Chinnor opened the scoring with a Cathcart penalty goal. Although contained in their own half, Reading broke out with Samison Speight scoring in the corner to give Reading a 5-3 lead on the 16th minute. Chinnor then went back to their occupation of the Reading half with Cathcart punishing a Reading indiscretion with a penalty goal to give Chinnor a 6-5 lead. Chinnor then spent most of the next twenty minutes in the Reading 22 but could only score a penalty goal which was neutralised, in their rare escapes, by two penalty goals from Reading’s fly half Nick Brooks to give the Green Machine an 11-9 half time lead.

With lots of whistling from the ref, the second half started and stopped frequently. Reading were next to score with another penalty goal from Brooks on the 58th minute. A few minutes later, the replacement of Chase by new boy Sam Stoop was inspired.

Stoop, receiving his first touch of the ball in Chinnor colours wide out on his own 10 metre line, broke through his first tackle, stood up the next defender and then shimmied around the full back to score a try. Cathcart converted to give Chinnor a 16-14 lead on the 62nd minute. Reading’s Dan Phillips was yellow carded after failing to observe the referee’s repeated warning not to enter the maul from the side. Cathcart converted the resultant penalty to increase Chinnor’s lead to 19-14. With Chinnor still pressing for more points, Reading broke out and winger Taniela Bakoso scored in the corner with Brooks converting to give Reading the lead by 21 points to 19 with 9 minutes left on the clock. Fortunes shifted in Chinnor’s way in the 77th minute when Reading’s Joeli Ulikiede was yellow carded for a high tackle. Cathcart’s aim was true at the resultant penalty to give Chinnor a 22-21 lead which they held until the final whistle blew.

This was an unsatisfying game in that Chinnor, with all their possession and territory, found points scoring so difficult. Lots of promising opportunities were left begging. They will be happy with the result and, in Sam Stoop, may have found a new key to unlock good defensive sides like Reading’s.

Chinnor team: Wallace, Chase (Stoop 46), Williams, Hewitt, Brown, Cathcart (Chase 63), Prescott, Winpenny, Cawston, Matthews (Pickett 73), Hutchings, Jackman, Fenwick (Gilbert 58), Hastings, Mowbray.
Reps: Pickett, Gilbert, Stoop