From the kick off Chinnor were able exit well and then apply good pressure on Buckingham. After a series of penalties in the host's half, Chinnor finally got the ball wide and saw Will L wrestle over the line in the corner for the first score of the game. The difficult conversion attempt was just short. 0 – 5.

Moments later, good defence from Buckingham just stopped Chinnor from scoring in the corner again, after a series of quick rucks and good offloads got the ball wide. As the half progressed, so did the high number of stops, penalties and free kicks, which prevented either side from getting any continuity going. The game settled into a scrappy midfield affair with only the occasional foray into either 22.

The end of the half saw sustained pressure from Buckingham on the Chinnor line. Intense defence repelled all the attacks, before a quick tap penalty 5m out, saw the Buckinghamshire side squeeze over for the try. 5 – 5.

The start of the second half, and Chinnor failed to clear the kick off, and despite some desperate cover defence, Bucks recycled the ball and scored. 10 – 5.

Shortly after the restart, a Buckingham free kick on halfway line allowed them to get the ball wide, where they slipped a tackle and scored in the corner. 15 – 5.

Chinnor picked up the pace and finally got some continuity going. From good ball off a well-worked line out on the host's 22, Chinnor backs hit a great line and punched through. Rapid recycling saw a series of rucks, before Buckingham managed a turnover and kicked clear. Chinnor fielded the clearance kick on the half-way line. A quick pass put a strong running Chris B into space for a great run to score in the corner. Score 15 – 10.

The final quarter witnessed a visibly tiring Chinnor fall off some tackles and leak two converted scores after some strong running from home team. 29 – 10.

The dying moments of the game and a final surge of effort from Chinnor, with some good continuity and a series of attacks deep in the Buckingham 22. A quick tap penalty saw Toby C wriggle through and score under the posts, before adding the extras. Final score: 29 – 17.

Match report: Mr Mark Turvey
Photos: Mr David Metcalf