The game for Chinnor started well with Tom W making a really strong run after 5 minutes on the right wing. One of many great runs for the day, he broke through a couple of tackles, only to just step into touch with a try looking very much on the cards.

After 8 minutes Number 8 Finn S went on a strong run and fended off a couple of players and passed the ball onto Flanker Archie C who continued the progress and then flicked it to Fly Half Josh S. The ball was then whipped along the backline out to a flying Will F on the left wing who ran 30 metres only to be bundled into touch a couple of metres short of the line. A fine piece of linesman-ship by Craig Parkin who simultaneously took an important call on his mobile whilst pointing exactly to the spot where play went out. Who said men can’t multitask?

On 13 minutes a Chinnor line out 15 metres out was taken cleanly by lock Gus B, who fed the ball to Sam T at Scrum Half who then threw a bullet pass to fly-half Josh S who standing flat, floated a sweetly weighted pass to Centre Josh R, who running an angle at full tilt scythed through the Maidenhead defence to go over in untouched. A gorgeous move, well worked. The try is unconverted. Chinnor lead 5-0.

After 16 minutes Josh S made one of many line breaks for the day and ran a good 30 metres before four Maidenhead players finally stop him.

Props Josh ‘Mega’ S and Sean B then work well to make a good 10 metres together tying in a number of Maidenhead forwards. But the ball is lost in the tackle just when things were starting to look promising. But at 22 minutes, after one of their many forward rolling mauls, the heavier Maidenhead pack drive the ball across the line to score. Unconverted it’s 5-5.

Despite a number of pick and drives from some of their bigger opposition forwards, strong tackling around the bootlaces by Louis A, Gus B and Archie C stop any real progress. A chip over the Chinnor backs, was then taken by Ben S at Fullback, who decides to go on the counter attack. He makes a strong run for 25 metres along the right hand touchline. He is stopped just outside the 22, with his bother Josh on his inside, who looked in a scoring position. Ben owes Josh one.

Some more strong runs by Finn S, lock Magnus P and prop Sean B and the ball is fed to Ben S. Fending off five Maidenhead tacklers he gets all the way to the opposing 22. Magnus is back in support on his shoulder and takes the ball galloping towards the line, only to be bought down a couple metres short. Unfortunately we’re penalised for holding on but it’s a great piece of play. Unlucky not to score.

At 35 minutes, Chinnor win their scrum and a tricky chip into the corner by Ben S, is not cleared well by Maidenhead. Josh S collects the loose ball near the touch line. He breaks through several tackles and steps around a couple more to go in under the posts in a beautiful solo effort. The try is converted by brother Ben. It’s 12-5.

Maidenhead spend the last 5 minutes of the half camped on the Chinnor line but good defence keeps them at bay. The half ends with Chinnor just ahead at 12-5.

The second half starts with Maidenhead looking a bit stronger. A very strong run by the big Maidenhead fullback is stopped by a brilliant tackle by Tom W just when it was looking menacing. Dan M makes a fantastic run slipping through 3 tackles and goes to ground, setting up the ball nicely for his supporting forwards. Mega picks it up and makes a typical rollicking run, with several great fends, only to get pushed into touch. A couple of minutes later Archie C makes another great 30 metre run.

At 55 minutes, after a very strong run down the left hand touch line, Gus B is taken down just short of the line but we win a penalty when they kill the ball. After a quick tap, the ball is fed to Mega who, running like a steam train, crashes over from 5 meters. Unconverted the score is 17-5 to Chinnor.

Maidenhead again put in a few attacking phases and their dangerman fullback is taken down by Louis A after he collects a kick over the top. This is followed up by some more great tackling again by Dan M, Rosco P and Harry R who keep the hosts at bay.

But half way through the second half and Maidenhead get a second try from another rolling maul. Chinnor don’t seem to have much of an answer to their heavier forward pack. The kick hits the cross bar and upright doesn’t go over. 17-10 to Chinnor.

Maidenhead gather the ball from the kick off and some strong running and a few broken tackles we find ourselves on the defensive just inside our 22. Some good forward play though and we work out way back into their half. We win a resulting scrum and the ball goes out to Josh S who throws a long skip pass straight out to Will F on the wing who makes one of his trade mark runs and then passes back inside to Tom W in support. Tom breaks a tackle as well and passes it again to Alfie C, who also fends off a couple of players. It goes to ground and then goes out again through the hands and Alfie C again makes another strong jinking run, but is pulled down 10 meters out. Chinnor are penalised for playing the ball on the ground.

With 12 minutes to go Chinnor win their put-in and Dan M goes on a sniping run on a big short side, feeds to Josh S who feeds it back inside to his brother Ben in a clever little move that sees him in plenty of space. A couple of slinky moves later and he could just about make it himself, but remembering the similar situation earlier in the match, he feeds the ball back to brother Josh, who breezes in for a try under the sticks. A very nice Smith & Smith manoeuvre. Ben converts his brothers try. 24-10 to Chinnor.

Maidenhead lift it and go on another rolling maul. Dan M makes a great tackle and Harry R does another trade mark steal to turn the ball over 5 metres out from the line and feeds it to Sean B who makes some great ground until he then feeds it to the backs. Chinnor decide to run it from off their line. Far from panicky they look calm and confident and the pressure is released.

With 10 minutes to go Maidenhead take a quick tap and after a series of short rumbling forward incursions, they get it out wide and go over in the corner. They miss the conversion. Maidenhead close the gap to 24-15.

After the kick off and some more see saw play between the sides, a smart little kick through the line by the Maidenhead fly half gains good ground and after a successful line out Maidenhead get the ball and set up a rolling maul. Chinnor again struggle to deal with their rolling pack and Maidenhead go over. The try is unconverted and we are all set for a tense final few minutes. The score is 24-20.

With about 7 minutes to go Ben S gathers a loose ball just inside his half and takes off. He makes it all the way to about 10 m from the line and with three players still to beat, it looks like he’s going to get another try. But one of the players jumps on him from behind and pulls him back in a really awkward tackle. The try scoring chance is killed. Unfortunately Ben is forced from the field in what looks like a pretty bad collarbone injury. To rub salt into the wound we are penalised for going over the top.

Maidenhead then go the attack. Their fullback goes on another one of his dangerous runs and breaks through Chinnor’s first lines of defence only to be bought down in a great tackle by Josh S. Josh has to go off too with a solid blow to the chest and quite painful bruising.

Maidenhead go again on one final push. After another line out and series of pick and drives inside the Chinnor 22 they get 5 meters from the line. It’s looking ominous. But some great work by the forwards hold it up. Gus B makes a great tackle and then with some great play over the ball, Harry R forces the Maidenhead player to hold onto it on the ground and concede what turns out to be a game saving penalty for Chinnor. Great work Harry.

For the final couple of minutes Chinnor look really confident. After 3-4 great passages of play where just about every player touches the ball, Chinnor make their way down the field to run down the clock. When the ref signals the 80 minutes Alfie C kicks it into touch and it’s all over.

A tough match in the end, with a lot of stoppages due to injury, it was a well-deserved win for Chinnor. All the boys played really well and worked exceptionally well together as a team. With a lighter pack, our forwards more than held their own, and the backs looked good with ball in hand.

Match report: Paul Shearman
Photos: David Metcalf