Chinnor ‘snatch’ victory from Taunton

IN a dramatic, last ten minutes on Saturday (Nov 22), Chinnor snatched victory from Taunton by 30-26.

Taunton fared the better in the first half dominating territory and keeping Chinnor under pressure throughout. Taunton’s first try, on 6 minutes, was well worked. Gathering an aimless downfield kick from Chinnor, Taunton’s Kingdom, with a deft chip over the Chinnor defence , collected the ball and slipped the pass to Lewis Webb who sauntered in, unopposed. Kingdom’s conversion put the visitors 7-0 ahead. Taunton continued to dominate and scored again in the 32nd minute, Jamie Fleming touching down from a driven maul, awarded only after lengthy consultation between the officials. Chinnor, defending manfully, managed two penalty goals from Keohane to keep the home side in touch at half time 6-12.

Taunton were quickly out off the blocks at the start of the second half. Fraser scoring their third try, profiting from another poor downfield kick. Kingdom’s conversion put the Somerset men 19-6 ahead. Chinnor came back through persistent driving and mauling in the corner, Toby Salmon dotting down on 48 minutes. Keohane’s conversion closed the gap to 13-19. Chinnor continued to press and the yellow carding of Taunton’s Faulkner allowed Keohane to close the gap to 16-19 with a penalty goal. Taunton shrugged off the Chinnor pressure to score through Nick Mason, stepping in from wide out on 66 minutes, to score under the posts. Kingdom’s conversion put the visitors further ahead 26-16.

Chinnor then hit a purple patch with Ryan Long scything through the midfield, wrong footing defenders at will, to slip Sam Angell in for a try under the posts. Keohane closed the gap to 23-26. With Chinnor belief surging, Angell put in the deftest of crossfield kicks to allow debutant Jaryd Robinson to collect and scorch the turf to the corner for Chinnor’s third try. Keohane added the extras to put the Oxfordshire boys ahead 30-26. Taunton then camped on the Chinnor try line for the remainder of the match but the home side held on heroically for the 30-26 win.

Taunton held the upper hand for a lot of this match and the game was attritional throughout. It was only when Chinnor gambled on their running game, very late in the game, that they realised that foot to foot was not the way to win, especially as they suffered at each scrum.
Taunton played to a physical game plan but also had backs that troubled Chinnor. Referee Richard Kelly had a fine game and we’d like to see him back at Kingsey Road. Ryan Long’s mazy run turned the match around for Chinnor. Two Chinnor old boys had a pronounced influence on the outcome. Alan Cawston brought sense and discipline to the front row and Sam Angell put Chinnor on the front foot immediately he came on. However, it would be churlish to separate the amazing workrate and significant disruptive power of skipper Ben Manning who seemed to be in two places at once and the number of significant interventions by scrum half Frank Jones whose skills and committment both prevented tries and initiated them, for the man of the match. They share, nicely.

Teams
Chinnor: Jaryd Robinson, George Blewitt, Jack Hayes, Junior Fatialofa, Reuben Haile, Ed Keohane, Reece Boughton, Ricardo Cano, Joe Pickett, Guido Cambareri, Darren Oliver, Toby Salmon, Andy Tibbatts, Ryan Long, Ben Manning

Interchanges: Alan Cawston, Dave McKee, Loti Molitika, Frank Jones, Sam Angell

Taunton:
Gary Kingdom, Nicholas Mason, Freddie Fraser, Mathew Tichias, Jack Faulkner, Toby East, Lewis Webb, Kieran Davies, Jon Gatford, George Cooper, Marshal Cormack, Benjamin Turner, James Fleming, Daniel Lee

Interchanges: Alex Spurdle, Mark Manton, Paul Davis, Daniel Ogden, James Bath

Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Salmon (48), Angell (72), Robinson (77)
Conversions (time): Keohane (50, 72,77)
Penalty Goals (time): Keohane (18, 36, 58)

Taunton
Tries: (time) Webb (5), Fleming J (32), Fraser (43), Mason (66)
Conversions: (time) Kingdom (7, 44, 67)

SOURCE: Contributed