So this is the first game for over 14 months for all these players. It’s the first for the new Colts team and it’s the first to be played with the amended rules. Nervous, excited but glad to playing proper full contact rugby again...

Kick off - It’s a good start. Chinnor take the kick off and run it back. In the opening exchanges, there is good tackling by both sides. A penalty to Chinnor leads to a line out on 5m line, offering the first real chance of attack. Good defending by Buckingham ultimately leads to a 22 drop out, allowing the visitors to clear their lines. Early pressure from Chinnor continues.

Try to Chinnor - From a line out, on the opposition's 10m line, Chinnor win the line out cleanly, put the ball through the backs hands and make real ground. Two quick rucks make further ground, before the ball is spun wide on the blindside and Chinnor score in the corner for Eddie C on the wing. The difficult conversion attempt is just short. 5 – 0.

From the kick off the game settles into a midfield-tussle with both side defending well against strong running. A break by Buckingham down the line makes ground into the Chinnor 22, but it’s halted by tremendous cover defence. Pressure from the visitors leads to a penalty, which they kick for line out on the 5m line. The line out is well defended and leads to a desperate series of rucks in the Chinnor 22. Try Bucks – a break off a ruck down the blindside leads to score in the corner. Conversion attempt is unsuccessful. 5 – 5 going in to half time.

The second half starts with good Chinnor pressure. A series of attacks lead to good field position deep in the Buckingham half, but solid defence sees the ball cleared for a line out on the halfway line to Chinnor. Some scrappy play by both sides sees exchanges of scrum free-kicks in the midfield and result in a visitors' line out on Chinnor 10m line. From the line they push the ball wide and make a good break stopped by some more fabulous scramble defence from Chinnor.

The midfield tussle continues with some strong forward running off the ruck from both sides, matched by equally strong defences. A Buckingham break leads to series of rucks in Chinnor 22, solid defence but a lapse in concentration coupled a quick tap penalty sees them score near the posts. Conversion successful. 5 – 12.

From the kick off Chinnor put great pressure on the visitors and force a line out their 22. Further aggressive defence sees Chinnor win a penalty. A quick taps leads to a succession of good rucks with Chinnor getting quick ball and making real progress. A series of rucks sees sustained pressure on Bucks line, before the ball is spun wide and Chinnor score in the corner by Ben S on the wing. The difficult conversion attempt is missed. 10 – 12.

Chinnor fumble the catch from the restart and the visitors manage to recover the ball, break through a tackle and score. Conversion is successful. 10 – 19.

With time not Chinnor’s side, their intensity now tuned up a notch with aggressive rucks and runs in the midfield matched by some ferocious defending against Buckingham's ball carriers. Exchanges of free kicks and strong pressure results in a visitors' line out on their 22. Great play from Chinnor sees them steal the line out and then put in a number of hard running rapid rucks that make further yards towards the try line. The ball is pushed wide - strong running and great support maintain continuity Chinnor are rewarded for their efforts as Ben M wearing the #8 jersey goes over the line between the posts. Conversion successful. 17 – 19.

Conscious that the clock is almost in the red zone, Chinnor field the long kick off. A series of rapid rucks with good quick ball, some great running and fantastic support play sees Chinnor move 60m down field to onto the Buckingham 10m line. Penalty to Chinnor.... This is the last play. Rather than risk the lottery of the line out, Chinnor take the decision to go for the posts – it’s a great kick but it drifts just inches left of the posts. And that’s the final whistle.

Final Score 17 – 19. A good contest. For the first game of their season, Chinnor played some great rugby but just lost concentration at one or two crucial moments. On to the next match.

Referee: Mr Rob Alexander
Match report: Mr Mark Turvey
Photos: Mr Jeremy Philpott / Mr Stuart McIntosh