Chinnor U15s romp home in 14 try bonanza!

What must have been a disappointing day for Ealing was a triumph for Chinnor U15s.

When Ealing offered to host the U15s at short notice, there was some trepidation as the Trailfinders have a good record and reputation... So the 17 players were no more confident when they saw a large and strong pack warming up on the 4G pitch at the Championship club. There were however, a good number of Chinnor supporters, including a number of injured and resting players.

The Chinnor squad consisted of Louis, Ollie and Adam in the front row, Ben N and Richard doing the heavy lifting at second row, Charlie, Archie B and Ben G flanking and No8. The back line was Will V, Toby, Josh E, Tom, Alex and Dylan. Ben S started at scrum half. Nathan and Chris started on the bench.

The score opened thirty seconds into the match with Alex scoring his first of five of the match. Seven minutes later came his second, followed by Toby three minutes after that, then Will V, then Toby again before Archie B scored as the only forward to do so in the game. Two more came before half time in a display of handling as classy as you would find anywhere. The forwards worked well against a heavier pack, capitalising on a couple of unfortunate Ealing knock-ons and also jackaling the ball successfully.

What set up everyone of Chinnor's successful try attempts was the speed at which the ball was out to the backs. Ealing's forwards were on the attack several times - and looked like they would break through - only to be thwarted by bad luck and some sniping play from Chinnor.

Two tries came quickly in the second half, the latter was beautifully set up by Josh E for Dylan to score. Then the match settled down with Ealing keeping hold of possession better and their perseverance paid off for a well deserved try fifteen minutes into the half. In fact, had they not gone over, then they may have been awarded a penalty try as Chinnor were slow to retreat from a penalty 10m out from the try line.

Unfortunately for Ealing, Alex came back on to devastating effect with him scoring three tries in the last ten minutes, along with Nathan who scored one try on the other wing. All the glory went to the backs, but none of that would have been possible without the hard work put in by the forwards to win and secure the ball. Ollie played out of position, including taking the throw-ins and we thank him for that. Adam and Louis were sometimes under pressure but repeatedly secured breakdown after breakdown. Ben N, Charlie, Richard, Chris and Ben G were effective both in the loose and when mauling and, as ever, Archie B's work rate was phenomenal.

What was pleasing to see were players passing to support players once they had received from the kick, clearing out the breakdown and sealing off the maul (from the line out). All things that the players have been working on in training! Tom K put in a good shift and was unlucky not to be rewarded with a try. Concentration levels were high and players were working for each other.

The partnership of the match must have been Ben S at scrum half and Will V at fly half. Their combination of good hands and game sense meant that the ball was always being presented where Ealing had fewer numbers and this kept Chinnor on the front foot. All credit to Ealing who did not give up the fight, chasing every dash by the Chinnor backs. Ealing also defended well throughout preventing the Chinnor forwards from breaking through.

Despite the bumper scoreline, there are things to work on and the squad will be back to training on Wednesday evening and next Sunday, before looking forward to the first match of the Oxfordshire Cup the following week.