Chinnor headline the Reading festival

Sixteen U14 players travelled to Reading RFC for an early season festival on Sunday. After a rigorous warm up led by Roj they first played first against Basingstoke, who were playing their second match after an opening victory. They didn’t find this game as easy. Chinnor’s forwards held out against an opening onslaught and once this was weathered they took charge. Some excellent team tries were scored by the backs after great phase play created space out wide. Any chances created by Basingstoke were easily snuffed out by great cover tacking and line speed. Chinnor won the game 20-0.
Next up was Chobham. As is usually the way Chinnor were a little too relaxed at the beginning of the game. Only a magnificent tackle by Aaron stopped a Chobham running in a try. The forwards were forced to up their game and they responded, scoring two tries before Chobham replied with one of their own. Chinnor scored two more tries, once again the forwards working hard, the unsung front five doing the dirty work whilst the back row linked successfully the backs.
The festival organiser then decided we should play in the A tournament group after a couple of teams were weakened by leaving players and injuries. Next match was against Reading As. They had brushed aside all comers and we looking to do the same to Chinnor. They looked shocked at Chinnor’s aggressive defence and the lack of space out wide they had been finding in their previous matches. Aaron Bennett pulling off a couple of outstanding tackles and Jimmy Leach doing what Jimmy does from full back, several massive tackles later Reading’s winger didn’t want to run near him again! Reading scored a well worked try midway through the game and this looked like the only score of the match until Reading struck with the last move of the match. Chinnor really stepped up a level from their previous two matches, the opposition being far superior. Our defence was excellent and we were very unlucky to concede two tries. The fact our truly unstreamed side lived with Reading’s 20 player A squad full of Berkshire county players was a testament to the boys and their commitment.
Next up was the fantastically named Supermarine RFC, also in the A stream. Although hard in the tackle and obviously keen for a victory Supermarine couldn’t live with our hard running and phase play. When in procession of the ball they were hit back in the tackle and rucked off the ball. Chinnor ran in four tries and concede only one to round off the tournament in style.
The way Chinnor worked as a team and stepped up to a new level when moving groups was superb and the boys should be proud of their efforts. A special mention goes to the front five who got on with their work and enabled others to score. The backrow were all over the pitch in support, tackling and disrupting the opposition’s attack. Danny Powell released the backs from scrum half, talking and letting his team mates know what he wanted. The backs ran in the tries and defended strongly when needed. A great all round team performance

Prose by ‘Ironman’ Wellbelove