Chinnor U14 Girls secure home win

In good conditions, Chinnor stated poorly, leaking a try in the first minute. 0-7. There was then a ten minute period when the U14 players decided to step up and defended well. This settled the home team and they then went on the attack, with a number of the established players setting the tone.

Captain Caitlin W, playing at outside centre, ran hard and well and this inspired Dulcie R, at inside centre, to do the same. Scrum half, Rennie F, seized the opportunity from a well worked probing attack to open the scoring for Chinnor. 7-7.

A second try followed with excellent forays into the opposition's 22, with the back row of Ava B, Daisy C and Kayla W carrying well and repeatedly securing the ball. Fullerians then countered with a try from some interplay from their strong 9-10-15 combination. Tamsin B came off the bench to play well at #6. 12-12 going in for oranges.

The second half was much the same to start. Chinnor's front row of Grace N, Zoe P and Summer I (later Eva B) did well to hold of their opposite numbers, with an increasing scrum count as the game progressed. Wingers Ellie B and Ceci A, both tackled in defence and took the ball into contact. At 17-17, it looked to go either way.

That was to change with Caitlin W turned over the ball and broke their line, slipping a tackle for a foot race from half way. An attempted trip saw a penalty try awarded, and the game started to feel like it was Chinnor's.

The solid work from the unsung heros (the locks) Lily F and Violet R did not go unnoticed and both had good carries and were hungry for the ball. Jemima C, at fly half, was instrumental in distributing the ball and kicking the team out of trouble. Hope B, at full back, made some important tackles and used her pace effectively in attack. Fullerians tried hard to get back into the game, twice getting into Chinnor's 22 in the last few minutes, but fortunately to no avail.

The breakdowns were scrappy at times (from both teams), but Chinnor secured most of theirs and counter-rucked to turn the ball over on some occasions too. It was a more assured, all-round team performance from the players and they deserved their win. 29-17 at full time.

Player of the match: Caitlin W
Referee: Mr Alex Bond