Chinnor Under 12s Mini Rugby Tournement (Contributed)

THIS Sunday, in less than lovely conditions, Chinnor Under 12s were invited to Cheltenham for their tournament of Mini Rugby. After a difficult start, they ended the tournament on a high note by winning their final three matches. The tournament format, two leagues of six teams all playing each other with a play off match against the team finishing in the corresponding position in the other league, pitched Chinnor against formidable opposition and an old foe too. The boys made a slow start and in the end were well beaten in their opening games against the hosts and Bicester. Although they narrowly lost their third match against Worcester they played much better rugby and went into their fourth match in better heart and comprehensively beat a good Cirencester team by three tries to nil with Dominic Bradbrook-Taylor, Ollie Wingfield and Nick Barker registering the Falcons’ first points of the day. The final group game brought Chinnor up against a big Berry Hill team. Ross Bunsell scored the first try with a swift break down the left wing after a good line-out win for Chinnor on their own five metre line. Although Berry Hill rumbled over shortly afterwards to level the scores the Chinnor pack began to get the upper hand in the second half as the weighty Welsh boys began to tire and a wonderful team try, with almost every Falcon handling in the build up, saw Dominic Bradbrook-Taylor break through to seal a well deserved win.

The victory handed Chinnor fourth place in their league and a play-off match against Witney. Chinnor dominated the game from start to finish, with the forwards winning good ball at almost every breakdown and allowing the backs time and space to move the ball across the pitch with some panache. Chinnor finally took the lead just before half time. A good break by Ross Bunsell on the left wing resulted in a Chinnor penalty seven meters from the line allowing Guy Carter to power through a petrified Witney defence with what is quickly becoming the trademark Chinnor flying-wedge. Ben Robinson was denied a stone-wall try late on when the referee mistook the try line for the five metre line, but gladly it did not affect the result.

Well done to Chinnor for coming back from a difficult start and thanks to our hosts for putting on such a well organised tournament.