Chinnor squeeze a two-point victory against tricky Taunton

IN a tense contest throughout, Chinnor RFC managed to squeeze a two point victory against Taunton on Saturday,  by 20-18.

Taunton opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Taunton’s scrum half, Townsend, took the ball from the base of a scrum and with pace and trickery, ran around the blind side untouched, to score under the posts. Kingdom converted to put the visitors ahead 7-0. An 18th minute penalty goal from Millett for Chinnor reduced the gap to 7-3.

With the Taunton scrum starting to dominate, penalty goal opportunities came regularly for the Somerset boys. Kingdom took two of them to put Taunton further ahead 13-3 with penalty goals on the 24th and 31st minutes.

Chinnor’s first try came from a long downfield kick from Taunton. Chinnor’s full back, Mountfield, collected the ball and launched a garryowen, Following up, he soared to catch the ball and released Chinnor’s backs down the tram lines. A kick ahead was fumbled by the visitors’ defence to let Hayes in for the try. Millett converted from touch to close the gap to 13-10 to Taunton at half time.

Chinnor scored again almost from the kick off. Taunton passed the ball behind their backs and good harrying by Harrison allowed him a kick through and touchdown for a try. MIllett’s conversion put Chinnor ahead 17-13. Chinnor then went into overdrive and battered the Taunton line for 15 minutes without luck. There were several held up decisions and Taunton performed heroics to prevent a score. Chinnor’s only gain from the period was a penalty goal from Millett in the 51st minute to put the Oxfordshire boys 20-13 ahead.

Taunton, despite the efforts of their non-stop defence then rallied. A break out by the always tricky scrum half, Townsend, eventually led to a catch and drive try on the 68th minute, scored by Forrester. KIngdom’s penalty missed to leave the score at 20-18 to Chinnor. Taunton, now galvanised, kept up the tempo and it was Chinnor’s turn to man the barricades which they managed until the sound of the final whistle.

Chinnor played with resolution and resolve in a fierce contest. Hall prompted well at scrum half with the two flankers, Harrison and Hirskij-Douglas having a fine game. Townsend for Taunton was tricky and dangerous throughout. The win keeps Chinnor just out of the relegation places and a continuation of the desire to win as shown in this match will go a long way towards survival.

Teams

Chinnor: Matt Mountford, George Blewitt, Matt Goode, Jack Hayes, Leo Fielding, Will Millett, Lewis Hall, Joe Winpenny, Jamie Townsend, Joe Pickett, Andrew Tibbatts, Michal Kruzycki , Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas, Nick Harrison, Liam Gilbert (c)
Replacements: Ricky Cano, Rudal Aiono, Andrew Smith, Frank Jones, Dan Barnes

Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Hayes (34), Harrson (41)
Conversions (time): Millett (35, 42)
Penalty Goals (time): Millett (18, 35, 51)

Taunton
Tries: (time) Townsend (13), Forrester (68)
Conversions: (time) Kingdom (14)
Penalty Goals (time): KIngdom (24, 31)