Chinnor tussle with Amersham & Chiltern rivals!!!

A truly grim morning greeted us for an eagerly anticipated double header against Chiltern and Amersham. We were without our county players and a number of our regular players were not able to join us. So the pressure was on for Chinnor's boys to do their best against our rivals from over the border.

Match 1

1 Ollie
2 Harry
3 Shaun
4 Otto
5 Richard B
6 Joe
7 Rosco
8 Max M
9 Ben S
10 Dylan
11 Oscar
12 Toby
13 Ashley
14 Eddie
15 Sean

And they did. It was cold, wet and windy when Ben S kicked off and we quickly learned that A&C were up for a game. Within the first ten minutes they had scored three tries. Cold hands and a filthy day meant that we struggled to go in hard for the tackles and the ball was a slippery thing, and all too easy to drop. However, the team talked themselves round and within minutes of the third A&C try we turned them over in a ruck and started to win the possession. Short passes, lots of taking the ball into contact and some excellent kicking helped us score two tries before half time.

The boys came out of half time warmed up and really ready to take the game to our opponents. We won all our own scrums and one of theirs thanks to really strong work by the forwards. We made our tackles and were fierce in contact, all this whilst struggling to stay on our feet.

By full time Chinnor had scored four tries to their three. A really strong and gritty performance in tough circumstances. The spirit was summed up by a try-saving tackle made by Joe H. The opposition winger was sprinting clear of our players, towards the touch line when Joe cut across the pitch to him at full pace, dived, and at the limit of his reach tap-tackled him with the back of his hand. And then - he was straight up fighting for the ball.

MATCH 2

1 Adam
2 Louis
3 Hugo
4 Sam
5 Charlie C
6 Gus
7 Finn
8 Ben
9 Daniel M
10 Chris
11 Will
12 Sol
13 Billy
14 Rosco / Dylan (1/2 each)
15 Joe / Otto K (1/2 each)

A tougher game with a really strong couple of players in A&C's three quarters and Chinnor asking a great deal of some of our less experienced boys, who all had a chance to play a full match under challenging circumstances. Unfortunately we weren't able to quite gain the momentum we needed to tip the balance in our favour. Their scrum was committed and well-drilled and their backs had had more match time than some of our team.

At half time we were three tries to one down. A good team talk ensured that morale stayed high and the boys understood the good work going on. There was strong communication, some really nice moves and some keen rucking and mauling. This was a tough match that we played well and strongly but we just were not able to apply enough consistent pressure to gain the upper hand.

At the final whistle A&C were 5-1. Well done Chinnor, a really good days work and valuable match experience.

JRG
02.02.16