Tri-Counties Final For Colts (By Nick Stock)

SUCCESS followed Success at the Kingsey Road ground on Sunday with the U17?s winning the Oxon, Bucks and Berks plate and the Colts progressing to the Final of their Tri Counties competition.
The coltS’ match began with the cheers and applause from club celebrations still ringing in the visitor?s ears; a match which brought back the Redingesians team from Reading who had fought so hard in a 3 point match earlier in the season.
The match started well for Chinnor with early pressure leading to a penalty and points from the boot of James Hewett. These were matched 10 minutes later by an excellent penalty kick from Redingesians to level the score.
Both sides had infringements penalised, and ill disciplined backchat continually surrendered ground throughout the match.
Neither side looked as though they would breakdown the other’s well drilled defences, even when Redingesians broke on their left. however the covering tackle from Tom Grellier was judged high and dangerous and a penalty try was awarded. The conversion made the half time score 3 – 10 to Redingesians.
Chinnor came out for the second half with a much sharper attitude and bite to their game. The scrum held better against good pressure and better ball allowed a more mobile game. Good bursting runs from Peter Elson and James Hewett pushed the opposition back. An attack fell just short of the line and when the ball came back Ed Devine delicately picked and dived over the line, and Hewett converted to level the scores.

The Chinnor pressure continued and with the second penalty, Hewett took Chinnor into the lead. The result was still far to close to call, but with a Chinnor scrum starting to move backwards, Max Williams scooped up the ball and darted round to the blind side making for the line. He drew in a covering player and delivered a near perfect ball to leave Morgan Thompson, who had made up ground fast, with just enough space to score in the corner. Opposition shoulders went down and Chinnor went on to win 18 ? 10
Chinnor will now play Maidenhead in the Final at Tadley RFC on March 6th at 2.45 pm

Chinnor Colts Squad on the day
R. ENTICKNAP; J.LANG; E.DEVINE; D.JOHN; J. KIRBY; M.WILLIAMS (Capt); P.ELSON; G.HACKSHAW; M THOMPSON; H.HILLIER; J.HEWETT; J.HISCOCK; M.EDMANS; D.ISSAC; B.BISHOP; T.GRELLIER; J.MESSENGER; R.JOHNSON; J.WARD; D CUADRADO

Coaches: Richard John and Kevin Edmans