Colts come up short at Banbury

With the rain having been and gone, the scene was set for the contest on the home team's first pitch. Chinnor Colts travelled with a squad of 20, with some late injuries and unavailability, and put out a mixed team of U17s and U18s players.

The testament to both teams was that not a point was scored for the first 25 minutes. Chinnor looked good in attack, but couldn't always finish. Banbury looked threatening at times, but equally could not maintain possession for long enough to get close to the tryline. Both teams were defending well. Then after a spell camped near the home team's try line, Chinnor capitalised on a penatly, kicking to touch. Having successfully won the lineout, the ensuing maul provided the platform for Ben G at #8 to force his way over in the corner. Successful conversion from Chris B and the score was 0-7.

Three minutes later, Banbury responded well and Chinnor did not press hard or quickly enough in defence. The hosts trundled over for a well worked team try. 7-7 going in to half time.

The second half started much the same, with both teams working well, but neither finishing off. Banbury broke the impasse, with a clever pass by their fly half back into the path of a forward running a great line. This was too much for the visitors to stop and he dotted down under the posts. 14-7.

A few minutes later came a great passage of play when Jude H (on the wing) managed to offload the ball out of a scrag tackle (where he was sent unceremoniously into touch), for the ball to be recylcled to Gus B, playing at second row. He set off on a mazy run, beating back three defenders before being taken down. Dan M, running in close support, collected and forced himself over the line to score. Duly converted. 14-14.

With only seven or eight minutes left to play, the hosts seemed to be on the back foot, giving away penalties. The Chinnor Colts called for two scrums before taking a quick tap on the third penalty, running straight into a Banbury player who had made no attempt to get back the requisite ten metres. This led to the hosts going down to 14 players, and Chinnor seized the moment and passed the ball through every back for Jude H to score in the corner. This was not converted, despite a well-aimed kick. 14-19.

As in the first half, Banbury seemed aggrieved at having conceded points and set out putting the pressure back on Chinnor. Their successfully ran a line finding a gap in the Chinnor defence to go over under the posts. With the score at 21-19 and tensions rising, all the hosts had to do was hold on to the end, which they did for the narrow victory.

The Chinnor Colts will no doubt rue one or two handling errors and occasionally being slow to press, but the overall performance against a heavier pack was good. No-one had a poor game and the Chinnor players worked hard and worked together. There are a couple of lessons to take back to training this coming week, but despite the loss, the team can take away a lot of positives.

Thank you to Banbury who were good hosts and, as ever, to the loyal Chinnor supporters who travelled to follow the Colts. The two teams meet each other in the league in March neat year.

Referee: Mr Charlie Stevens (OSRFR)
Attendance: 66

Chinnor Colts team:

15. Eddie C
14. Rosco P
13. Ollie S
12. Toby C
11. Jude H
10. Chris B
9. Sam T

1. Louis A
2. Harry B
3. Charlie Mc
4. Sam G
5. Gus B
6. Finn S
7. Tom F
8. Ben G

Bench:
16. Archie D
17. Magnus P
18. Joe H
19. Adam M
20. Dan M