Caldy ………….
Tries: Robinson 33, Bedlow 66 Conversions: Barker 33, 77 Penalties: Barker 10, 39, 54
Chinnor ………… 24pts
Tries: Goss 12, Hughes 57, Passman 75 Conversions: Chamberlin 12, 57, 75 Penalty: Chamberlin 52
A breathless and competitive game saw Chinnor squeak the win by a single point. Chinnor’s Director of Rugby Nick Easter was delighted by the manner of the win as much as the result.
“That was a terrific game of rugby. The lead changed hands several times and I am delighted with both our defensive effort and our resilience to come back and win at the death.”
A month without rain had produced a hard, fast pitch and both sides played accordingly.
For the first 10 minutes, frantic pace, offloading, and risky passing promised a high scoring game but exemplary defence by both sides kept the scoring to a solitary penalty from the boot of Caldy’s Lewis Barker.
A dubious ballooned pass was juggled by Chinnor speedster Kieran Goss before he touched down in the corner. The first of Nathan Chamberlain’s three successful conversions pushed the visitors into a slightly fortuitous 3-7 lead.
Despite continuous hectic play by both sides, it was a further 20 minutes before the next score came. But it was a beauty!
After good work by Caldy full back Matt Kilcourse, the ball was switched across the field putting centre Connor Wilkinson into space and his deft offload gave winger Will Robinson a 20-metre sprint to the line. Barker’s conversion and a further penalty right on the stroke of half time gave the home side a slender 13-7 lead at the break.
In the first half Caldy had enjoyed an advantage at the breakdown particularly through the industry of flanker Tristan Woodman but in the second half the visitors enjoyed parity.
The penalty count started to swing against the home side. Barker and Chamberlain swapped penalty kicks before a further infringement by Caldy gave Chinnor a promising attacking position.
The quickly taken tap penalty produced a try for Chinnor’s Grant Hughes and after another successful conversion by Chamberlain the visitors were ahead 16-17.
Caldy ratcheted up the pressure. Some ten minutes encamped in the Chinnor 22 metre area eventually told and Caldy’s replacement centre Joe Bedlow scooted over to give the lead back to the Ravers 23-17, but it did not last.
With time running out Chinnor found field position and a delightful inside ball put Morgan Passman in for the winning score.
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