Chinnor take top spot after demolishing Exmouth

CHINNOR RFC, scoring 13 tries in their 83-7 victory over Exmouth, took top spot in National 2 South as leaders, Taunton, were comprehensively beaten at home by the league’s only other undefeated side, Old Elthamians.

Compared to the second half, it was a slow start by both sides. Chinnor opened with Luke Hibberd’s first try (of 4) on 9 minutes but Exmouth came back in their best spell of the match and went into a 7-5 lead on 24 minutes, courtesy of a well worked rolling maul, Charlie Gibbings touching down and George Meadows converting. This stung Chinnor into action and, with Greg Goodfellow down the blind side and Henry Lamont through the centre, two quick tries put the home side 17-7 ahead. A midfield barnstorming run, one of several on the day, by CJ Osazuwa finished with an exquisite backhand pass to see Bevon Armitage go over for the bonus point try. Bertie Hopkin’s conversions saw Chinnor go in 24-7 ahead at the break.

The floodgates opened in the second half with Luke Hibberd adding three more tries. Henry Lamont got his hat trick with two length of the field efforts in the last two minutes of play. The best try of the half came from another midfield break by CJ Osazuwa, speedily supported by his second row partner, Nathan Hannay, who unselfishly allowed Luke Hibberd in for his fourth. Further tries from Bertie Hopkin, Danny Barnes, CJ Osazuwa and Tom Burns punished the luckless Exmouth further.

Exmouth, newly promoted, have had the misfortune to play all their early matches against teams at the top of the league and suffered again today. They play with heart and will adjust to the pace of the game as they meet lower placed teams in the league. On the day, Chinnor’s greater speed of thought plus a dominant pack, saw the Cockles ship more points than they would like. At this time last season, Chinnor were little better.

It took Chinnor 30 minutes to overcome the resolute visitors from South Devon but it then began to be one way traffic with wingers Luke Hibberd and Henry Lamont scoring 7 tries between them. George Messum, in his last home match for Chinnor (job relocation) showed the home fans how much they will miss him with his usual rumbustious, energetic display. CJ Osazuwa, with a startling number of midfield breaks, gave the large home crowd a hint of what Usain Bolt might look like as a rugby player and is this week’s Star Player.

It will be fireworks on November 5, as the league’s two undefeated sides go head-to-head with Chinnor at home to Old Elthamians.

Teams

Chinnor
Kieran Goss, Luke Hibberd, Danny Barnes, Bevon Armitage (c), Henry Lamont, Bertie Hopkin, Greg Goodfellow, Tom Price, Jon Phipps, Andy Berry, Nathan Hannay, CJ Osazuwa, Alex Waddingham, George Messum,Tom Burns

Interchanges: Andy Darlington, Jamie Townsend, Gus Jones, Sam Miller, Junior Fatialofa

Exmouth
Dan Powell, Jack Downie, Rob Gurnett, Tom Bedford, Harvey Ridgeway, George Meadows, Lloyd Watkins, George Savage, Charlie Gibbings, Isaac Dalton, Jack Fahy (c), Milo Reynolds, Mike Richards, James Harris, Sam Thomas

Interchanges: Chris Gibbons, Ben Wonnacott, Aaron Thompson, Stuart Lowe, Sam Conway

Scorers

Chinnor
Tries (time): Hibberd (9, 45, 57, 76), Goodfellow (27), Lamont (36, 79, 80), Armitage (38), Osazuwa (47), Barnes (52), Hopkin (54), Burns (67)
Conversions (time): Hopkin (28, 40, 45, 48, 52, 55, 68, 77, 80)
Penalty Goals (time):

Exmouth
Tries (time): Gibbings (23)
Conversions (time): Meadows (24)
Penalty Goals (time):
Referee: Thomas Davis
Attendance: 420
Half time score: 24-7
Full time score: 83-7
Star man: CJ Osazuwa

SOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell