With frosty cars and the faint waft of a local recycling centre burning we head east to the old Roman encampment of St Albans buoyed by some strong northern hemisphere performances this weekend from England, Ireland, Scotland and…..ahem Argentina!

Old Albanians has always been a hard nut to crack. Not since all of the Chinnor boys were little squirts chasing velcro tags have we managed to chalk up a win – could this season be the one to change things? Of course OA’s had a different opinion – a gigantic team with a gigantic reputation (and the best farmyard-in-a-bun sarnies on the fixture list). Chinnor were still hit by injury problems – Tom Bellars and Adam Cauldwell (serious knee issues), Kooks (groin) and Iestyn James (Man Flu).

The Chinnor A’s were off first. Captain Charlie Krabbe’s initial team talk (without the Anglo-Saxon colour) made sure there wasn’t a communication breakdown – Chinnor had to start strong if they were to have any hope of changing their record. Both teams moved the ball from end-to-end for the first 5 minutes before OA’s broke through for the first try under the posts which the converted easily (7-0). Not downhearted Chinnor pushed back immediately with sustained pressure in the OA’s 22. Finally Chinnor were awarded a penalty for their efforts and Matt Smith stepped up to charge full-pelt at their forward line only to be held up short. Another penalty. This time Captain Krabbe steps up with the exactly the same approach – this time crossing the line under the posts with Toby making the conversion (7-7). Game on.

OA’s came right back at us – focussed on keeping their unbroken record and capitalising on a few uncharacteristic Chinnor missed tackles (12-7). An excellent conversion from the touchline allowed them to creep further ahead (14-7). Again the Chinnor kick-off that followed carried with it sustained pressure from the forwards fighting for possession in the rucks. With some good hands from the backs Rory Leff crossed the line strongly by the corner flag (14-12). In true Chinnor spirit and commitment Rory’s efforts resulted in the end of the game for him due to injury.

The pressure continued in the second half with Chinnor holding the OA scrums and managing to out-pass along the line. Sub-sonic Seb Scott took the ball out wide and stretched his legs for the OA line (14-17). Chinnor take the lead for the first time. Toby’s conversion from the touchline is perfectly straight but inches short.

In the final 10 minutes OA’s seemed to be the team that had more in reserve. Their driving of the rucks and continual pressure but Chinnor in defence mode almost continually. Eventually the inevitable happened and OA’s took the lead back with a well worked try (19-17). With only 2 points in it Chinnor continued to fight bravely to the end – unfortunately a well-driven maul from a line-out gave OA’s another try in the dying seconds. Final score 24-17 and one of the best performances of junior rugby the coaches and parents have ever seen.

Next off were the Chinnor B’s. Having witnessed their friends/team mates fight against some very strong rugby they were determined that this wasn’t going to be the point when the levee breaks.

Following kick-off both teams held each other well for nearly 50% of the first half until the deadlock was broken – unfortunately it was broken by OA’s. In relatively quick succession QA’s scored 3 tries and converted 1 of them (17-0). Whilst the spirit and determination of the Chinnor team was evident across the squad – QA’s managed to get possession from the ruck and defend better that Chinnor which enabled them to get ahead in such a short period.

Callum Wright broke the Chinnor duck following a true team effort (17-5) and there was light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately the light was the OA train coming in the other direction and they pull back a further 2 tries and convert one of them (29-5). One of the OA’s team not only played hard but was clearly doing better at Mo-vember than most of the parents!

The Chinnor team refused to lie down. Their constant drive and willingness to move the ball out wide allowed Matt Walker to score another Chinnor try in the corner (29-10).

Unfortunately in the dying moments of the game OA’s intercepted a Chinnor pass, ran the entire length of the pitch and score the final try (34-10).

Whilst the score line doesn’t reflect it both teams played to their maximum. As Director of Rugby Hook said in the team talk afterwards – it is the best game of rugby I have seen you play. Praise indeed.

As always the Old Albanians were the perfect hosts (at no other fixture do the boys get Spaghetti Carbonara) and the referees were fair, instructive and let the game flow.

Angus 'Maximus Decimus' Gibbins