CHINNOR produced arguably their best home performance of the season as they deservedly beat Taunton Titans to close the gap at the top of the table.

We were in control for the majority of the National League 1 contest, producing an impressive all-round display to see off tough opposition and Storm Arwen, which brought with it strong winds and bitterly cold temperatures.

Tries from Fred Tuilagi, Caolan Ryan, Will Millett and James Bourton secured the bonus-point within 43 minutes and, despite conceding quickly after our fourth try, another determined defensive effort ensured we came out on top.

Ben Manning produced another superb performance and typified the effort with his relentless work at the breakdown, while Oli Curry led the way as we mauled as well as we have all season.

The victory has lifted us up to third in the table and, with Cinderford losing at home to Sale, the gap to the top is now nine points with Rosslyn Park – our opponents next weekend - taking over as the new leaders.

Director of Rugby, Richard Thorpe made two changes from the team which started against Leeds Tykes seven days ago. Curry returned in the second row in place of the injured Ben Glynn, while Morgan Veness made his debut at hooker after joining on a short-term loan from Ealing Trailfinders.

On the bench, Charlie Connolly was set for his first appearance having recently signed from Major League Rugby side Houston SaberCats.

We headed into the match with a point to prove at home, having lost our last three games at Kingsey Road.

Bearing in mind the conditions, it was never going to be a day for pretty free-flowing rugby, with the set-piece needing to be well-oiled.

Kicking towards the stand in the first half, we looked to use the conditions to our favour in the opening 40 as the wind howled across the pitch towards the Clubhouse and into the corner where the Club Shop sits.

Kicking deep from that corner was not something you wanted to do often. Taunton scrum-half Lewis Webb saw his box-kick barely make a couple of metres as the wind got hold of the ball and we went on to a win a penalty. Having kicked to the corner, Curry claimed the lineout, quickly fed No 8 Tuilagi on the blind and forced his way over in the fourth minute. It made the conversion difficult for Bourton, whose attempt was pushed wide by the gusty conditions.

Both sides opted to use the high ball, but it was dealt with well on the whole and we went on to dominate territorially as Titans struggled to get out of their half.

A few promising attacks broke down, but again the lineout proved effective in the 20th minute. Mauling our way to within 5m, there was again space on the near side and Tuilagi fed Caolan Ryan to squeeze over in the corner. Bourton’s conversion attempt was again blown wide as we led 10-0.

Just three minutes after scoring his second try of the season, Caolan was unfortunately forced off with a broken nose, but that did not stop us in our tracks.

Penalties in our favour allowed us to continuously pin Titans in their half and into the corner where the wind was at its most ruthless.

A few wonky lineouts - understandable in the conditions - prevented us from potentially adding to our points, but we did extend our lead just before the break.

Patient play and pick and goes allowed us to make our way forward and suck in Taunton. There was space over out on the right and we used it as Millett dotted down for his second try in as many games. Bourton added the extras as we took a 17-0 lead into the break.

Of course, Taunton were about to have the conditions in their favour in the second half, but we did well to keep them at bay after first adding to our tally.

Titans’ Jack Walsh kicked out on the full under pressure and we punished the mistake, mauling our way forward before Bourton chased Luke Carter's fine kick to score his eighth try of the season to make it 22-0 after 43 minutes.

That corner which made kicking virtually impossible for Taunton in the first half? Well, it hurt us almost immediately, as our Jack Walsh saw his box-kick blown out of play. The visitors were clinical from the resulting lineout as captain Charlie Wright drove over for an unconverted try.

We now needed to be at our best defensively as Titans had a sniff of eating into our advantage. Our response was brilliant, with countless attacks repelled by ruck penalties which allowed Millett to boot us back over half-way.

For a good ten minutes we looked the most likely to score, but Taunton somehow kept us at bay to give themselves hope as Manning and Rob Hardwick went close to forcing their way over.

We may have led by 17 points, but the nature of this league and the lessons from previous weeks meant we could not rest on our laurels.

Titans came at us in the final ten minutes, dominating possession and territory, but we stood firm. Just like we did against Leeds last weekend, we produced another superb defensive effort to keep them out and, despite seeing Willie Ryan sin-binned late on, we saw out the game comfortably.

An important five points and another confidence booster heading into December.

Chinnor: Millett, Goss, Worrall, Bourton, Heath, C Ryan, Carter, Chilvers, Veness, Hardwick, Curry, Brockschmidt, W Ryan, Manning, Tuilagi.
Reps: Tonga’uiha, Connolly, North, Walsh, Yawayawa.

Taunton Titans: Baker, Struminski, Mason, Tarling, Bonnick, Walsh, Webb, Norton, Gosling, Johnson, Olphant-Thompson, Williams, Swain, Wright, Vakalutukali.
Reps: Francis, Dalton, Leworthy, Salvi, Dart.