Another Scalp For Chinnor Seconds

Chinnor 2nd, 11 Pts vs. Canterbury 2nd, 10 Pts
Match Report – Home League Game – March 24.
Scorers – Tries: Adam Winchester x 1
Penalties: Thad Cooper x 2

TALK about a close shave! Chinnor Seconds took another top class scalp Canterbury Seconds by beating them 11pts to 10 in the Canterbury Shield League. This brings it to three out of three for the last three league games. This was quite a feat since Chinnor 2nds had lost five players to the first team, and another four to injury, sickness, travel and work commitments creating nine changes from the normal 15 starting.
Due to the third team having a bye, we were able to play some of the team and three young players from the Chinnor academy who held their own very well, and it bodes well for Chinnor?s future.
The two teams played with passion and in the spirit rugby should be played, hard and physical.
Chinnor came out fired up and ready for the game having lost to Canterbury in the away game. With the advantage of a strong wind at their backs in the first half, Chinnor should have done better, missing many chances but lacked patience. Having said that, great defence by Canterbury who were camped in their own half for most of the first half did not concede a point until the 35th minute when the young academy player, Thad Cooper, was successful with a penalty and the first half finished three – nil.
With Canterbury having the wind in the second half, they seemed to make better use of it than Chinnor did and went ahead after only seven minutes with a converted try followed four minutes later with a penalty and were in the lead 10 points to three. It took until the 30th minute before Chinnor closed the gap with a try by Adam Winchester. In the last five minutes Chinnor were fortunate to have Thad Cooper give Chinnor the win 11 points to 10 by converting a penalty.
A big thank-you to young Mark Westaby, Thad Cooper and Ollie Heath and all the others that helped us out.
Man of the Match was Adam Winchester for his full commitment to the second team, week in and week out and not for his clearance kick towards the end of the game.

Walter McGuicken
Second Team Manager

Photo: Courtesy of Chinnor RFC website