Chinnor Takes SW Division Title – Match Report

Chinnor 30pts – Maidenhead 13pts

CHINNOR eventually overcame their nerves on Saturday, to defeat a confident Maidenhead side to take the South West Division One title.
This was never going to be an easy ride for Chinnor. Maidenhead were one of the only two sides that had defeated them this season. This fixture had always been considered to be a local derby, so much was at stake.
The Chinnor side needed just one victory from two games to take the title against a resurgent Maidenhead who were also unbeaten in their last six games. Both teams were at full strength with James Hewitt and Ed Rixon for Chinnor returning from injury. Paul Hennessy captained Chinnor in the absence of Craig Burrows with Matt Hutchins starting in the second row.
Maidenhead won the toss and elected to play with the strong breeze at their backs. However all the play with Chinnor in the first 10 minutes as they laid siege to the Maidenhead line. Strong defence kept them at bay, and when Chinnor elected to go for goal and narrowly missed, Maidenhead went on the offensive. With their line-out functioning particularly well, and their back row getting to the break down at speed, they were looking dangerous. Dan Walton kicked a penalty for a Chinnor off-side in the 12th minute and repeated the dose just four minutes later for a similar infringement. A Simon Cripps try followed a decisive break by Jonny Hammond, was converted by Walton putting Maidenhead in the ascendancy with still 20 minutes of the first half remaining. The Chinnor defence stood firm during this period, assisted somewhat by some stange option taking by the visitors.
The first 10 minutes of the second half gave no indication of what was to come. Both sides went close to scoring before James Hewitt stepped up to claw three points back for a Maidenhead off-side. Chinnor were now on the front foot, but remained patient. Then, a seering break through the middle by Rewi Tolich saw him hand on to Eric Brown who ran in under the posts. With the Hewitt conversion a formality, and the same player adding a penalty just eight minutes later, it was now game on.
With John Brodley ringing the changes, it was substitute, Richard Williams next on the score sheet rounding off a move he had started to, again, go over under the posts. Hewitt added the extra points and minutes later struck an excellent penalty to put clear water between the sides. An Eric Brown try from a forward drive with a Hewitt conversion from the touchline, made it six successful kicks out of seven for the youngster, and was the icing on the cake for the home side.
Chinnor had scored 30 unanswered points in the last remarkable quarter of the game, much of which can be attributed to the leadership of Paul Hennessy who remained calm throughout.

This was Chinnor’s fourthth promotion in the last 10 years. It’s a long way from the Bucks and Oxon Division One, to the National Leagues. With Chinnor’s 2nd XV winning the Bucks, Berks and Oxon Premier Division 1 title, and the 3rd XV on the verge of winning their league, this could be a unique treble for the Thame based club.