20/04/10…First major trophy for Chinnor RFC Under 13s (Contributed)

CHINNOR RFC U13?s won their first major trophy on a hot and hard day at the Oxon 10s tournament, hosted by Wallingford RFC on Sunday, April 18.

The first match versus Oxford Harlequins was the toughest, with Chinnor hanging on during a five minute spell of powerful play from Oxford with Thomas Strathdee, team captain, making an awesome cover tackle to prevent the first score going to Oxford.

After this the Chinnor boys really got going and managed to run in four tries and take the first game 22 ? 0. Chinnor then faced Bicester who proved tough opponents. However, Chinnor made the crucial gaps to run in two tries and win the match 12 – 0. The next opponent in their group of five was Chipping Norton. Chinnor had now found their rhythm and ran in five tries to take the game 22 ? 0, thanks to some excellent work by the forwards and hard tackling by the whole team.

The last group game was against Banbury which saw both teams looking a little tired in the heat. However the team started very well, running in three tries, two by Jack Ellis who scored in every game, to give a 19 ? 0 lead at half time. Banbury came back and scored two tries but Chinnor held on to win 19 ? 12. Chinnor won their group, played four, won four.

Chinnor played the runners up from the other group, Henley, in the semi final. Chinnor got off to a flying start and were 19 ? 0 up at half time, again great work by the forwards in tackling and recycling the ball quickly giving the backs space to run with real menace at the Henley defence. This continued in the second half, with the whole team showing great commitment in the tackle on the hardening ground. Chinnor scored another two tries with Henley getting a consolation try making the final score 31 ? 7.

Chinnor played Oxford Harlequins in the final, who had beaten a strong Wallingford side in their semi. Chinnor again started the strongest with Jack Ellis opening the scoring. Then the Chinnor forwards took over with a remarkable maul that they drove from their own half to the opposition try line creating a five metre scrum from which Chinnor scored a try. Chinnor dominated the rest of the match with a simple, powerful game of solid tackling and quick passing and went on to score another four tries to win the game 34 ? 0.

The squad:
Thomas Strathdee (Capt.), Charlie Krabbe, Iestyn James, Adam Caldwell, Reggie Hubbocks, Samuel Hook, Jack Ellis, Finn Tapping, James Millett, Harry Lowe, Ben MacIntosh, Berkuk Kumdah, Nathaniel Heather, Fred Swift, Tom Bellars