Chinnor U15s find their form for a home win

Olney opened the scoring ten minutes into the match, it having ebbed and flowed up to that point. Chinnor were working hard to make tackle after tackle and started to be rewarded with some turnover ball. The forwards were working hard to secure the ball and drive forward. Harry R and Finley were in at every breakdown, Ed M was putting in huge tackles and Archie D at 8 was proving his worth.

Chinnor's first try came from Ben G who fought his way through 15 metres of Olney players to dot the ball down under the posts. Five minutes later, Archie D scored from a well worked team effort from the forwards. Both duly converted by Ben S.

In the second half, the backs come into their own with more success at penetrating a strong Olney defence. After an early second try for newcomer Archie D, the tries then came from Will, Alex and Nathan. In each case, the ground work had been done by others - getting the ball out to the outside centre or wingers and then they backed themselves and it paid off.

Eddie at scrum half was tireless and making tackles. Ben S read the game well and wisely kicked through on two occasions, only to be thwarted by the bounce of the ball. Tom distributed the ball well and ran straight, timing his passes to perfection. Josh E carried really well at fullback and had 15 minutes at fly half where he demonstrated his kicking skills.

Today the lineout just plain worked: with first Chris and then Sol being lifted by Adam, Rich, Ed and Ben G, only one was lost. Harry's throwing in was sound (with the one exception). The driving maul, practiced before the match, was very effective.

Credit also goes to both Ollie and Shaun for grafting in the front row as well as sealing off the our mauls and disrupting Olney's. We secured turnover ball three times by wrapping up their maul, which gave us the opportunity to get out of our half and go on the attack.

Olney looked sharp throughout and scored two converted tries in the second half. They rucked well and their play was solid, with one or two unlucky knock-ons that cost them dear. It was a closer game than the score line would suggest, save perhaps for the start of the second half when Chinnor looked at their best.

We also thank Toby, Archie B, Ben M, Max, Josh A, Sam, Gus and Dan who all came down to support the team.

Referee: Rob Alexander