Chinnor RFC back to their best after beating Barnes

VICTORY on Saturday, with a 36-0 win over Barnes, has secured Chinnor’s future in National division two, South

It didn’t take long for Chinnor to assert their superiority in this game with the pack driving forward at every opportunity. Fly half Sam Angell kicked a penalty deep into Barnes territory and from the resulting line out and drive Chinnor were awarded a scrum, five metres out. Quick possession allowed Angell to squeeze through a gap, dragging flankers over the line with him to score after just five minutes. He converted his own try to give Chinnor a 7-0 lead.

Barnes tried to relieve the pressure by using the wind to kick the ball deep into Chinnor’s half, but counter attacking runs by Vandermolen, Waddingham and Messum returned play into the Barnes’ half. Several of these runs linked with the jinking Junior, Fatialofa, who broke through several tackles. Fast feeding along the line by Frank Jones then put winger Lamont away to score an unconverted try in the corner for a 12-0 lead.

Fatialofa and Lamont combined again to gain a 30 metre advantage for Chinnor with the supporting Tom Burns being adjudged held up on the try line. Chinnor forwards were now dominating both tight and loose, particularly the scrums, giving plenty of time for Angell to chip the ball wide for Marcus Beer to gather and score Chinnor’s third try converted by Angell taking their lead to 19 – 0 at half time.

Angell dictated the play in the second half with his deep kicks forcing Barnes to counter attack from their own 22 metre area. Chinnor’s defence dispossessed Barnes, providing full back Goss with the opportunity to run unopposed to the line to score with Angell converting the try. 26 – 0 to Chinnor.

Barnes showed phases with good attacking moves but these were short lived due to the excellent tackling and defence by the back row led by man of the match, Messum. Chinnor then put the move of the match together with eight phases of driving mauls and quick handling along the three quarters, until Lamont sped around the defence to score his second try in the corner.
Barnes’ frustration led to a fracas in which Chinnor hooker, Phipps, retaliated and was sent off for foul play.

Despite being down to 14 men, Chinnor still maintained the upper hand and finished in style when Goss drew the Barnes’ defence then did a switch pass with winger Heath who crashed over, to score an unconverted try and give Chinnor a well-deserved 36 – 0 victory.

Chinnor have now raised their position to 10th in the league and next week face bottom of the table, Launceston, when they could win and go into the top half of the league, after spending the whole of the season near the bottom.

SOURCE: Contributed