Draw for Chinnor Vets over Reading rivals (Contributed)
Thames Valley Invitational League B – Chinnor RFC RFC Oxen (Vets) XV ? 10pts v Reading RFC Rhinos (Vets) XV ? 10pts – MATCH REPORT
TOP of the league and unbeaten Reading RFC Vets paid a visit to Kingsey Road on Saturday (21/02) to visit an impressive and much improved Chinnor RFC Vets side. Having the Chinnor Vets team captained by former Reading Club Captain Dave Wells added spice to the encounter.
Last time the two sides met Reading ran out 26 ? 0 winners. This time however an impressive squad had been assembled, strengthened by Conor Begley returning to a Chinnor number 10 shirt after a number of years in the wilderness. He looked like he?d never been away.
The conditions were perfect for rugby which boded well for a mobile Chinnor Vets side. However, Reading scored first blood with a converted try 15 minutes or so into the first half which was cancelled out by a break from Paul Ewens. He tackled short of the line, off loaded beautifully to Dave Wells in support who crossed to score under the posts and subsequently convert his own try with about 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
The half time whistle blew with Chinnor Vets being 10 ? 7 ahead following a penalty deftly converted by Dave Wells again.
The true vets of Reading were vastly experienced and gave the Chinnor Vets some more to think about in the second half. Encouragement came for Chinnor from the Reading side visibly tiring and the mobility of the Chinnor pack. Some lovely handling in the backs threatened to seal the match with another score, but it was not to be as the vast experience enabled Reading to hold Chinnor back.
With the referee visibly in trouble with a knee injury, he stopped the clock for a breather before restarting with a Reading penalty which they easily converted leveling the scores at 10 ? 10 with five minutes remaining.
Try as they might Chinnor could not breach the Reading line leaving both sides thankful for the draw.
A good number of positives can be taken from this Chinnor performance, not least some returning faces.
Drifters 2nd XV at Kingsey Road this coming Saturday should see this Chinnor Vets team secure third position in the league with four games in hand.
Chinnor RFC Oxen (Vets) XV:
Craig Jones, Craig Smith, Mike Wiltshire, Dave Ratcliffe, Dan Palmer, Paul Wright, Tim DeGlanville, Stuart Reynolds, Steve Bridges, Neal Gilbert, Tony Howells, Jon Brooks, Jeremy Philpott, Doug Humphries, Conor Begley, Dave Wells, John Sellars, Paul Ewens, Alan Beveridge, Tim Wright, Josh Hill, Andre van der Mewe, Mark Turvey.
By David Ratcliffe
