Chinnor just squeeze through against Bishop’s Stortford

Chinnor RFC’s first team, troubled by injuries and absences, did just enough to squeeze home against a competitive Bishop’s Stortford side 29-27, on Saturday (26/10)

Image courtesy of .pitchero.com/clubs/bishopsstortfordrfc/

Chinnor went into the lead in the third minute after a Millett penalty goal but then suffered a blitz from the visitors from Hertfordshire who scored two tries in two minutes.

Nice interplay from Stortford down the tramlines allied to woeful tackling, saw Cattell score Stortford’s first try. A quick tap from a midfield penalty for a Chinnor offside allowed Mahoney to skip through an absent defence and lay on the second try for Hankin. Walker’s conversion put Stortford 12-3 ahead with just six minutes played.

Three minutes later a scrum penalty awarded to Chinnor was converted by Millett to pull the score back to 6-12. Having weathered the initial storm, Chinnor came back into the match on the 21st minute when a simple passing movement at pace saw George Blewitt in at the corner. Five minutes later, a punishing scrum from Chinnor saw Frank Jones, dart inside his defender and slip the ball to Hastings who crashed over for Chinnor’s second try. Millett’s conversion put the home side ahead 18-12. The third try came courtesy of Corpe who jinked through the Stortford defence to increase the lead to 23-12.

As the half came to a close, Fielding, for Chinnor, was yellow carded and Walker’s penalty goal for Stortford closed the half at 23-15 to Chinnor.

Just two minutes into the second half, Stortford caught Chinnor on the hop when Hankin touched down for his second try of the day to put the visitors just three points behind at 23-20. Millett soothed the crowd’s worries with a penalty goal on the 52nd minute to increase Chinnor’s lead to 26-20.

Stortford then upped the pressure and Chinnor had to endure a ten minute period when Stortford charged at the line continuously. Despite the number of penalties awarded against them, Chinnor held firm and cleared their lines. Stortford came back and, with an apparent knock-on in midfield causing several Chinnor players to stop, Bird went over for a try near the posts and Walker’s conversion put the visitors 27-26 ahead with 13 minutes left to play. Chinnor did not panic and moved the game upfield where a penalty, awarded wide out on the right-hand side in the 74th minute, was converted, with no mean skill by Millett in the fierce wind, to put the home side back in front 29-27. Stortford were not finished but the Oxfordshire boys managed to hold the score and secure a two point victory although outscored four tries to three by their visitors.

Chinnor managed some periods of skilful play but, for most of the match, seemed disorganised and out of sorts. Their period of three tries midway through the first half did much to seal the victory as did Millett’s kicking in very windy conditions. However, for the rest of the match, they were hassled and hurried by competitive Stortford side. Bishop’s Stortford, to their credit, never gave up and will feel irritated that their efforts did not earn them victory. Hastings, for Chinnor, had a fine all-round match with some bullocking runs – doing much to ease the pressure from the Hertfordshire lads.

Chinnor scorers:
Tries (time): Blewitt G (21); Hastings (26); Corpe (34)
Conversions (time): Millett (26)
Penalty Goals (time): Millett (2, 9, 52,74)

Bishop’s Stortford scorers:
Tries (time): Cattell (3); Hankin (5, 42); Bird (67)
Conversions (time): Walker (6,67)
Penalty Goals (time): Walker (39)

Chinnor team:
Ricky Hopwood, Tristan Corpe, Leo Fielding, Will Millett, George Blewitt, James Cathcart, Frank Jones (c), Joe Winpenny, Ed Vickers, Andy Berry, Sam Blewitt, Andrew Smith, Andy Tibbatts, Nick Harrison, Adam Hastings

Replacements: Tom Whelan, Nathaniel Titchard-Jones, Tom Mowbray, Joe Marston, Sam Angell