Comfortable win for Chinnor over relegated Launceston

CHINNOR RFC, in scoring 11 tries, recorded a comfortable victory by 75-3 over already relegated Launceston.

The match, for the first 20 minutes, was a relatively even affair with no score. The deadlock was finally broken in the 21st minute when Goodfellow dummied from 5 metres out. The tries then came at regular intervals throughout the half. Goss was next up with some midfield dancing, followed by Lamont, the beneficiary of consummate front row passing skill. Launceston, through full back Edwards, pulled three points back from a penalty in front of Chinnor’s posts. A kick downfield was fielded on Chinnor’s 10 metre line by Goss who skipped through the All Blacks defence to go in under the posts. With a minute of the half remaining, Chinnor’s Heath chipped and chased a ball down the tram lines for Chinnor’s fifth try. With all tries converted by Angell, Chinnor went in 35-3 at half time.

Like the first half, Launceston competed well to stem the Chinnor tide for nearly twenty minutes. The dam burst on 58 minutes, when Heath sashayed to the line. Lamont followed shortly after. Hannay burst off the back of a rolling maul to bemuse the All Black defence for a stroll over for Chinnor’s eighth try. Goodfellow sprinted from 45 metres for Chinnor’s ninth. Lamont almost scored his hat trick but slipped the ball in the tackle to Manning to dot down. Chinnor’s final try came from skipper Tyas who scorched on a diagonal from halfway for a spectacular finish and final score of 75-3.

Hats off to already doomed Launceston for never failing to compete in this match. Their fresh faced players had two 20 minute periods when they repelled the Chinnor attack stoutly and their scrum was solid throughout. The pressure told in the end as Chinnor found holes in the All Blacks defence at regular intervals.

This was a cohesive display from the Thame boys. The forwards were patient in building pressure and position to release good ball to the backs who showed some individual moments of real skill. Both Goss and Lamont run smart lines and the laid back Heath continues to make scores from tight spots. As the All Blacks tired, Chinnor forwards joined in the scoring with tries from Hannay, Manning and Tyas’ 50 metre sprint. All around, a good measured team performance in which it is difficult to highlight a star player but skipper Tyas shaded it from the rest of his team mates. The win moves Chinnor to the giddy heights of sixth in the table.

SOURCE: Contributed