‘Not enough & too late again’ as Chinnor lose by one point

IN a tightly contested match, Dorking overcame Chinnor on Saturday (20/09) by the narrowest of margins winning 23-22.

Photo by Peter Matthews

Chinnor’s first points came in the first minute from Boughton’s penalty goal. Shortly after, Noble opened Dorking’s account with a simple try under the posts, which Macdonald converted for a 7-3 lead. A number of scoring opportunities were spurned by both sides with dropped passes at critical times, until Pimlow’s penalty goal put Dorking further ahead 10-3 on 31 minutes.

Chinnor’s Reuben Haile opened the second half scoring with a try on 44 minutes, converted by Boughton to tie the match at 10-10. Dorking’s lively scrum half Will Crow scored Dorking’s second try on 52 minutes. Macdonald’s conversion put the visitors 17-10 ahead. Chinnor came back in the 55th minute with a try from Keohane and a conversion from Boughton to square the match at 17-17.

Two penalty goals from Matt Noble in the 64th and 72nd minute put Dorking ahead 23-17. With full time approaching, Chinnor’s Martey went over in the corner to put Chinnor one point behind. Boughton’s kick sailed wide and shortly after, the final whistle went for a hard earned Dorking victory.

Dorking proved that their opening results in a new division were no fluke and they proved to be competitive at all phases of play. Their ability to score from most of the kicks on offer saw them home despite being outscored three tries to two. Dorking’s scrum-half Will Crow was usually at the centre of things.

Chinnor again showed their new match plan concept of not bothering to play very much at all in the first half. The tactic of getting their backs to play in a completely different position from any other match or from their natural position clearly backfired as passes went awry and the pace needed to finish promising moves was all in the wrong place. Keohane debuting in the full-back role for the first time this term was perhaps the one exception and looked comfortable and threatening from the back. Waddingham again showed what was necessary. Too many penalties were given away offering too many chances to the visitors.

This match was frustrating as Chinnor showed, in fleeting glimpses, how quick and innovative they can be – but not enough and too late, again.

Chinnor: Ed Keohane, Jack Hayes, Martin Nutt (c), Junior Fatialofa, Reuben Haile, Frank Jones, Reece Boughton, Ian Stock, Joe Pickett, Simone Carloni, Andrew Tibbatts, Dave McKee, Ryan Long, Alex Waddingham, Jake Parker

Interchanges: Joe Winpenny, Jamie Townsend, Ben Manning, Sam Angell, Robbie Martey

Dorking : Matt Noble, Gary Johnston, Ryan Jeffery, Fraser Macdonald, Joseph Mogaji, Cameron Pimlow, Will Crow, Ben Knight, Ross Grimstone, Seun Olayanju, Harry Watts, Armand Roux (c), Jon Vermont, Ollie Edwards, Ted Lee

Interchanges: James Catton, Richard Nunn, Matt Higgins, Charlie Stevenson, Zach Woodcock

Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Haile (44), Keohane (55), Martey (77)
Conversions (time): Boughton (45, 55)
Penalty Goals (time): Boughton (1)
Drop goals (time):

Dorking
Tries: (time): Noble (4) Crow (52)
Conversions: (time) : Macdonald (5, 53)
Penalty Goals (time): Pimlow (31), Noble (64,72)
Drop goals (time):

Referee: Christophe Ridley
Attendance: 298
Half time score: 3-10
Full time score: 22-23
Star man: Will Crow (Dorking)

SOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell