The first 15 minutes were evenly matched with a fine run by Joe C towards the Newbury line and somersault momentum, when tackled, to maintain the attacking advantage and put pressure on the hosts to find touch. With a successfully won lineout, Chris B was able to receive the ball, having been passed down the line, to score the first Try of the match near the corner. Kicking into the wind the conversion was unsuccessful. 0-5 Chinnor.

The game ebbed and flowed with knock on errors by both sides throughout the match. Newbury clearly sensed the threat they were facing, often looking to attack by way of strategic kicks through or over to open space. Unfortunately for them this was countered by Dylan T turning the opportunity to Chinnor’s advantage to counter attack. The Chinnor forward pack won ball throughout the game with quick ball from scrum halves Dan M and Sam T. Richard B was a force to be reckoned with winning and obstructing lineout throws as required. In confused open play Archie D was quick to tackle and stop any developing threat. Harry R, making his debut at Number 8, continued his trademark carry to increase his yardage gained tally whilst regularly being first in place to turn over Newbury ball.

With good quality ball there were plenty of chances for the Chinnor backs to pass out wide with a number of runs by Joe H, Archie B-G, Eddie C and Alfie C. The last of these was held back at one point when the ball was kicked through towards the try line, resulting in a Newbury player being asked to leave the field for a few minutes. It took a while for the next score to be registered, with a clever dummy by Dylan T enabling him to go across the try line the left of the posts. The kick by Chris B was successful. 0-12.

A third try quickly followed with a up and over Chinnor ball allowing Chris B to cut through to score under the posts and then gain the additional points. 0-19. Following the kick off and Chinnor gathered the ball Sam T was able to find space to dart through but the Chinnor advance was resisted before the ball eventually found touch for the Half Time whistle. 0-19.

At the restart Newbury attacked with renewed vigour making significant gains towards the Chinnor try line, only to be held up. The resultant scrum saw their No 8 pick up before the ball moved wide for Newbury to score in the far corner. The host’s conversion was short. 5-19.

Chinnor renewed their attack with a run by Eddie C making ground from the visitor’s half towards the Newbury 22 and a successfully won lineout enabled wide passing for Archie B-G to score in the corner, but the conversion was missed. 5-24.

With increased confidence Chinnor quickly increased the points pressure with Harry R gathering from the kick off to allow the team to pass wide, yet again, to Chris B to find a way through and add to his tally with a successful conversion. 5-31. The next try came a couple of minutes later from a superbly delayed pass by Joe H, fooling the opposition, to Archie D with conversion by Dylan T. 5-38.

Whilst Chinnor maintained the pressure in the opposition’s 22, with good interplay between Rich B and Magnus P. Newbury were eventually able to conjure up chances of a late comeback with a pass from their successful scrum, to their wing who evaded tackles to go clear and score the host’s second try, although the conversion was short. 10-38.

Chinnor had a few more attacking chances in the closing stages. On one occasion a further Chinnor try was disallowed due to a previous clash of shoulders, whilst running through the defence, which resulted in a Chinnor player being temporarily rested at the referees request. Jake G also successfully sidestepped a defender only to be stopped in the corner, before further pressure on Newbury resulted in them throwing the ball back behind the try and dead ball lines. The resultant Chinnor 5 yard scrum ball was lost after the pick up - enabling to opposition to kick into touch and be relieved by the final whistle. Final Score 10-38.

Report: Hugh Riley
Photos: David Metcalf