Oxen win against Wheatley

Back in the 1980/90s the Oxfordshire Referee society had the dubious honour of having among its ranks a referee of such over confident incompetence you could now quite easily imagine him being an integral member of Theresa May’s cabinet. Commonly known as ‘Medallion Man’, he created carnage and wrecked many a Saturday afternoon. Due to the size, weight and number of his garish chains and rings, not to mention his rapidly advancing dotage, it meant he would habitually officiate from the halfway line. In a 1st team game against Wheatley circa 1992 with tempers fraying and patience wearing preciously thin after he had disallowed a pushover try for the 6th time and penalising the Chinnor pack for ‘pushing too hard’ he took the unprecedented step of sending off the entire Chinnor front row for repeated infringements. So it was with curious symmetry that some 25 years later another member of this high performance unit managed to yellow card the entire Oxen back row, including Group Captain Warner against, the same opposition.

Jonny Brooks took particular umbrage with his carding decision as it was he who had pointed out to the ref at half time that the Wheatley had actually scored 12 points and not the 5 he had written down on his scorecard. This act of ‘spirit of rugby’ chivalry was promptly thrown back in his face when the yellow was flourished at him for an infringement of such nuanced technicality incurred around the half way that even Brooks' legendary powers of profanity were shocked into silence. At this very moment General Powell was audibly heard sniggering from his position of full back 50 metres away. This was however the first signs that Powell had recovered from his Cheltenham Festival/St Patrick's Day/Irish Grand Slam induced triple hangover and we all breathed a sigh of relief that normal service had resumed.

Chinnor, in typical generous host fashion, had given our near neighbours the opportunity to gain a deserved early 12-0 lead. They were looking strong and fit and had some new feisty, fast additions to augment many of our old friends and adversaries. Serge Sermon’s shorts still take some getting used to and it was a pity that the County’s poshest farmer and all round good egg Chap Hedges wasn’t available. Although it was said by the Wheatley faithful that he was on the receiving end of such a big tackle last year that it was doubtful he will ever be donning the colours again.

On paper it had looked like Chinnor had a very strong team, particularly in the backs where we had the bonus of our younger recent recruits Fats and Mountford augmenting the usual star double act Powell and Oxley. Oxley had announced he was very much looking forward to going to watch Anthony Joshua in Cardiff next week and the flow of adrenalin seemed to push him into full battle mode with what the watching crowd thought was a tad foolhardy attempt to overpower his ‘AJ esque’ opposite number. As Ox came whistling back in the opposite direction it was concluded that evasion rather than confrontation might be the more sensible Modus Vivendi.

Chinnor began to put their mark on the game in the second quarter where quick ball meant the class in the backs could come to the fore. All the team made valuable contributions with some lovely lines and support. Our referee’s interpretation of the many laws meant the game couldn’t really flow as we would have liked and it was noted as the penalty count soared past 50 that surely his pea would run our sooner rather than later.

The returning Fenwick making his debut for the season seems to have taken to his elongated rest rather well. Although still capable of attaining good height in the line out and making the odd telling contribution in the loose he announced that having just returned from a long trip to South Africa he was rather feeling the pace and was a bit knackered. By the looks of the shape of the tightfitting jersey he must have tired himself out chowing through the generous Afrikaner steaks and red wine.

Chinnor managed to edge the first half and went into the break 17-12 to the good. This could have been more as on the stroke of half time a rapier attack from Oxley and Fats had got to within 2 metres of the line. Good, quick recycled ball saw Chinnor with a four on one. The first receiver was GC Warner, who was showing off his all court game after snaffling several turnovers, and he unselfishly chose to pass rather than stroll in under the posts. Unfortunately he passed to opposition prop Sermon, but as all good , experienced props do having looked up and seen no defence in his way of a 95 metre run to the far try line Sermon promptly dropped the ball.

The second half continued in its stop, start manner but we still had enough time in between the symphony of whistle to give us enough breathing space from the ever competitive Wheatley. Good tries were scored by Powell, Ox and Fats. It was fitting that the scoring was completed by Snozzer Wright returning to action after his gory epic at Henley a few weeks ago.

A good, physical match which will hopefully put us into a shape for big games to come.