Wonderful running rugby down by the river

Henley hosted Chinnor in the much anticipated semi-final of the U13 Oxfordshire Cup. It was a bright day with infrequent gusts of wind. The pitch was heavy underfoot, sloping towards the Thames.

Arriving promptly the U13's squad decamped into the large 1st XV changing room and swiftly donned the black & white jerseys. A brief team talk and the boys were out for the warm up, for once, at the end of it they were...warm and up for it. Henley arrived for a stud check and the match kicked off a little after 10:45 with Chinnor playing up the slope and into the breeze.

Despite this the team played with determination, focus and a little skill as well. The forwards using their size and weight advantage to drive up-field into the Henley 22, with Mulholland eventually finding the smallest of gaps to drive through for the first try. A quick tap and kick from the Henley 10 pinned Chinnor back into their own half for a few moments but Chinnor were quickly back up the field, thanks to a wonderful hand-off and run by Phillips, putting pressure on the try line. One unsuccessful blind side surge was followed by a pick up from the scrum and again Mulholland forced his way over for try number two. Chinnor's third try followed some scrappy play from the kick-off. Eventually Chinnor worked the ball down the line to Golding who with an in to out swerve went past the outside man, and opened his legs to gallop the remaining fifty metres. Excellent wide conversion from Vaughan. A little indiscipline and lots of hands in the ruck provided Henley with the chance to get back in the game but some excellent tackling from Alexander, Vaughan, Cook and Stainton and some tremendous jackals to poach the ball by Moody and Bailey meant that Smith could release Mulholland mid-field who carved through a gap and ran 50 metres uphill to score. Henley's heads dipped a bit at this point but to their credit they still came out tackling and trying to get back in the game. As the half came to a close the forwards, Blackwell, Crisp and Riley and backs combined well to put Chinnor back into the Henley 22. Golding using his range and power scored to give Chinnor a commanding lead at half-time whistle. 0-27.

The 2nd half began and once Chinnor retained possession from the kick off the backs managed to wrong foot the opposing line and Bailey broke the line, off load to Mulholland and chest pass to Golding who opened his long legs and ran along the wing to score from his own 22. With Henley still competing hard, especially at the breakdown Chinnor domination was put on pause. However, quick thinking from Mulholland at 8, picked up on 22 off load to Parkin, Parkin to O'Connor, good cover tackle into touch, the ball was then touched down by Henley from resulting line-out, 5-metre scrum to Chinnor, pick-up and score by the Mulholland.
Varley, now at 8, scored Chinnor's last try. Driving on with opposition players on his back trying desperately to fell him. His determination and with Hick, Cullen and Kampa supporting made sure he got over the line. Final score 0-51.

Well done to both clubs, the Henley side a very good team and just came off second best on the day. Thanks to Alex and the club for their hospitality.

It was a great weekend for Chinnor and the U13's . the 1st XV beating the top of the table side and both U13's squads enjoying some fast attacking running rugby, at Henley and back at home in the Jonah Lomu Cup against our friends at Gosford All Blacks. We may have had two sides out yesterday but we win (and lose) as one team. Well done boys, you displayed great character.

N. Stainton
07/02/2016

Your match reporter would like to thank the players for much of the above as he was getting a little carried away with it all...

Team - Moody, Riley, Varley, Crisp, Blackwell, Golding, Bailey, Mulholland, Smith, Vaughan, Phillips, Cook, Stainton, O'Connor, Alexander, Cullen, Parkin, Kampa, Hick.