Chinnor U12s enjoyed a fantastic away match with Oxford Harlequin today. After a quick warm—up the session started promptly with three highly effective training drills focusing on taking contact, ball presentation, competing at the ruck, tackling and tackling in simulated live play.

We are extremely thankful to Quins for the well thought out skills work and for fielding one of their First XV players to coach the boys so well.

Coach David and Rich G’s teams then played two 25min games. Coach David’s team saw Captain Zachery, Defence Lead Franco and attack maestro Arthur manage the team well through an early physical charge and well drilled phases of play from Quins.

Chinnor (Black)

Chinnor stood up to the challenge and despite going two tries down early, rallied to score two back through the notable efforts of Chris and James. Jake showed some great vision and pacey running lines and James have took the ball up hard through the middle, a few missed tackles and lapses in concentration saw Quins close out the game in the lead.

The second game was what makes our boys Chinnor through and through. Coming out the blocks hard, Chris scored followed by a fantastic step in close contact and determined charge from Ewan. Tom K also led well with direct running and a very nearly length of the pitch down the touchline.

We were committed in defence, communicated well and showed our teamwork and passion when Arthur took a nasty looking dump tackle into hard ground and had to leave the field with a suspected concussion.

Chinnor (White)

Coach Rich’s team took to the field against a mobile looking Quins team. Jacob Begley captained the first match with Mitch as defence captain. Jacob took responsibility for the kick off with a great kick. Quins were a strong team with hard running but Chinnor put in some great tackles with George and Jackson leading strongly.

The pressure told with Quins taking the first score. A fight back came from the guys with some dynamic running from all. Henry E-J picked up the ball on the half way line, picked a strong line and went for it, Quins players hanging off him but not enough to stop the power house from crossing the white wash. Try Chinnor!

Quins were strong in the tackle and competed well in the breakdown to steal a number of turnovers. The possession took its toll with another score for Quins.

The second match saw a determined Chinnor side take the field. The boys were up for the match and it showed with some great tackling from Alex and Felix. Mitch was marshalling the defence really well which made for a tight game. When Ellis found himself in the back field with little options the Quins team pounced with a breakaway intercept try. A further Quins try came from a loose Chinnor kick.
Great team effort and change in gear from the first match, boys are looking good for Buckingham festival!

The fight back was a joy to watch, another fantastic try from Chris settled the game and we all shook hands with the opposition and left the field happy as is the rugby way. Hotdogs in the sunshine watching Chinnor’s Colts play on the main pitch was a lovely way to end the fixture.