CHINNOR produced a brilliant first-half performance to secure an impressive opening-day victory at home to Sale.

Three tries in the opening 40 minutes put the Oxfordshire side in control, giving them a platform to dictate the National League 1 contest.

It had been 547 days since the sides last played a league game – ironically against each other – and it took the hosts just 40 seconds to open the scoring through Oscar Heath.

Chinnor dominated the first half from there on and tries from Max Clementson and Luke Carter, as well as two Caolan Ryan penalties, put us into a 27-7 lead at the break.

The second period was a disjointed affair in comparison, but the damage had already been done and Conor Brockschmidt scored our bonus-point try to ensure we started the new season with a five-point win.

Director of Rugby, Richard Thorpe handed debuts to 11 players, while captain Ryan returned from injury in time to start at fly-half.

A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off. It was an opportunity to remember family and friends who have passed away over the last 18 months, to recognise our NHS and key workers, and the sacrifices we have all made during the ongoing pandemic.

Blink and you would have missed the opening try of the game as Heath sniped through from full-back and raced into a gap. He could not be caught as he dived over, Ryan converting, as we led 7-0 in the first minute.

There was barely time for anyone to catch their breath in a frantic start and we found ourselves 14-0 up after ten minutes when openside flanker Clementson forced his way over from close range, Ryan again adding the extras.

Sale hit back almost immediately, exploiting space on the right where Tom Brady evaded Heath to cross out wide, Chris Johnson converting, but from there on the visitors were pinned back in their half.

Chinnor were dominant for the next 20 minutes, and thought they had scored their third try of the game when James Bourton drove over the line, but the ball was held up.

For all of our territory, we were made to settle for two Ryan penalties to extend our advantage to 13 points, but the try of the game arrived just before the break.

Quick hands found the impressive Heath whose extraordinary behind-the-back pass released Dean Hammond down the left and the winger fed scrum-half Carter who scampered over unopposed, Ryan again converting.

Sale had responded well to the opening 40 minutes, but we still found ourselves pressing for a bonus-point try.

Instead, a counter-attack saw the visitors reduce the deficit to 13 points on 50 minutes when Jack Metcalf incredibly hacked his way to the try-line from his own 22 and Callum Morris profited to dot down, Johnson adding the extras.

Both sides had already made a handful of changes and one of ours was homegrown talent Ben Wilkinson who came on for his First XV debut.

The game was then put to bed after the hour mark when Chinnor’s patience paid off.

After several pick and goes, lock Brockschmidt powered his way over from close range and Bourton took on the kicking duties to slot the conversion.

There was still time for Sale to score their third try of the game, Tumy Onasanya driving over out wide and Johnson impressively converting from the touchline.

But the damage had already been done and Chinnor comfortably saw out the rest of the game, with the match ending on Bourton’s penalty attempt slipping just the wrong side of a post.

A special mention must go to our man-of-the-match Willie Ryan, who not only impressed with some strong ball-carrying, but stepped up to the plate with superb arrows at lineout time.

All in all, rugby union returned to Kingsey Road with a Chinnor bonus-point victory and smiles a plenty at full-time.

Chinnor: Heath, Davies, Grose, Bourton, Hammond, C Ryan, Carter, Tonga’uiha, Chilvers, Hardwick, Glynn, Brockschmidt, North, Clementson, W Ryan.
Reps: Lines, Wilkinson, Lavin, Titherington, Ham.

Sale: Metcalf, Brady, Mulchrone, Robins, O’Donnell, Johnson, Bradley, Birchall, Brown, Kelly, Davies, Gray, Cecil, Hughes, Barron.
Reps: Onasanya, Longmore, Priestley-Nangle, Owen, Morris.