Chinnor RFC Nail Biter Against Cleve

MATCH REPORT – Cleve 22 pts Chinnor 26 pts – 03/11/07
ANOTHER nail- biter – Not for the faint hearted this! The game lived up to its billing with top of the table Chinnor visiting Cleve, who were in third position and defending a two year undefeated home record.
Chinnor were forced to make five changes from last week’s starting line-up. Skipper Matt Hutchins, Harry Jackman, Alan Cawston and Joe Winpenny were all absent from the pack with the unfortunate Sam Portland sidelined with a broken leg. Their places were taken by Joe Iosefo, Patrick Stennings, Andy Millburn, Adam Hastings and Pip Seymour.

The game kicked off in perfect conditions with Chinnor unable to get their hands on the ball for the first 15 minutes, during which time they found themselves 16 points in arrears. The referee was quick to penalise any indescretions and with Chinnor committing three of these, the deadly boot of Cleve’s Matt Spencer made them pay. Three penalty goals from Spencer and a well worked try from Snach Ajuwa with Spencer adding the conversion left Chinnor stunned and facing an uphill battle. They got back into the game after 30 minuters, when Jaike Carter made ground on ther right wing and found the ever present Zane Winslade with a pass back inside to score wide-out. James Cathcart added the conversion. Chinnor then spurned a kick in front of the posts taking a quick tap penalty instead which came to nothing as they were held up just short of the line. At half time Cleve led by 16 points to 7 but Chinnor were well back in the game.

Chinnor began the second half in storming style. Owen Gustafson made a break after the forwards set up a good platform, allowing Tom Whelan to force his way over the line and score his first try for Chinnor in three years. With Cathcart adding the extras, Chinnor were back in the hunt. It was now Chinnor making the play, but with the referee finding a couple more reasons to penalise them, one of these leading to a Grizz McQuire sin-binning, the unerring boot of Spencer made them pay. Two flashes of top drawer rugby them won the game for Chinnor. It was Ben Hewitt who, entering the line at pace and running at a good angle, was responsible on both occasions. He finished the first incursion by scoring himself, running 50 metres in the process. His second foray into the line set up Pip Seymour, who took the pass from Hewitt and ran hard to score wide out. With Cathcart adding one of the conversions, Chinnor took the lead for the first time. They then had to defend their line desperately in the last seven minutes without Andy Millburn who was yellow carded for entering the side of a ruck. The fact that they scrummaged twice near their line with seven men, and held up on both occasions, showed their resilience and fortitude. Young Robert Baker, on his debut, did very well at this most testing of times.

So, at the final whistle it was Chinnor who ran out the winners and deservedly so in scoring four tries to one.