Foul play mars Chinnor RFC’s battle with Bournemouth (Contributed)

MATCH REPORT – Bournemouth 24, Chinnor 26 – National third division South West; Saturday, September 05. 2009.

CHINNOR’S first match of the season, an away win at Bournemouth, was marred by an incident of foul play which led to the hospitalisation of Chinnor scrum half, Toby Prescott, and possibly the end of his season.

Chinnor gave debuts to hooker Simon Tattersall, flanker Liam Gilbert, no. 8 Tom Mowbray and fly half Mark Chase. There was a welcome return for Sam Black at lock, back from injury after missing most of last season.

In good but blustery conditions, the game got off to frenetic start with the first score to Bournemouth from a penalty goal on seven minutes. Just two minutes later, a Bournemouth scrum 10 metres from their own line was disrupted by Chinnor?s Toby Prescott. No 8 Mowbray pounced on the loose
ball to score an unconverted try. A few minutes later, Prescott ran off the back of a scrum and sent a long pass to Ben Hewitt to scoot in at the corner. With the conversion failing, Chinnor led 10-3.

Bournemouth then came back strongly. Winning a mid field penalty, they kicked for the corner. The resultant lineout saw the ball moved to winger Rory Hearson, coming in to midfield at great pace. He brushed off two tackles to dot down under the posts. The conversion from Puks Ngapaku levelled the score at 10-10.

The 36th minute then saw the low point of the match. Prescott darted from the scrum and wrong footed Bournemouth fly half Ngapaku. As Prescott passed, Ngapaku hit Prescott in the face with a stiff arm
forward smash. Catapulting into the air, Prescott lay ominously still.

Examination at hospital revealed that Prescott?s jaw was fractured in four places and four teeth were dislodged. The referee yellow carded Ngapaku which seemed totally inappropriate for an act of foul play which has possibly ended Prescott?s season. Chinnor Captain, Richie Williams, went to scrum half and Alex Wallace, returning from a long injury lay off, replaced Prescott.

On 39 minutes and with their dander up, the Chinnor pack rolled a maul off a lineout over Bournemouth?s line for prop Ian Stock to score. Cathcart converted to give Chinnor a 17-10 half time lead.

The second half started well for Bournemouth. Repossessing the ball after the restart led to a series of rucks on the Chinnor 22 with Bournemouth winger, Hearson, again breaking the Chinnor line to score a try. With Ngapaku in the sin bin, replacement kicker Mike Pope slotted the conversion to level the scores at 17-17. Shortly afterwards, two
penalties in quick succession from Chinnor fullback Cathcart gave Chinnor a 23-17 lead.

Bournemouth remained competitive and, in the 62nd
minute created an overlap on the left which allowed Pope to score wide out. Ngapaku?s conversion gave Bournemouth a one point lead at 24-23. Seven minutes later, Chinnor?s Cathcart regained the lead for Chinnor with a well struck penalty. Chinnor now led 26-24 and were hanging on in the face of intense pressure from the home side.

In the dying seconds of the match, Bournemouth were awarded a penalty. As the ball sailed wide, the referee blew for full time with the score 26-24 in Chinnor?s favour.

In some ways this was a typical first match of the season. There was a degree of rustiness and Chinnor will be worried about the fall off in performance in the second half. Failed kicks cost Chinnor 19 points.
Bournemouth are a very competitive side and any side visiting Chapel Gate will do well to get a result.

All in all, Chinnor were grateful to get a win but the whole match was overshadowed by the act of foul play which has possibly ended the season of Chinnor?s brightest spark and man of the match, Toby Prescott.

Chinnor team: Cathcart, Serrano, Hewitt, Williams, Shiel, Chase, Prescott (Wallace 36), Stock, Tattersall, Whelan (Winpenny 70), Black, Jackman, Gilbert, Hastings, Mowbray.

Reps: Winpenny, Wallace, Wood

PHOTO: Man of the match, but sadly injured, Toby Prescott

Bill O’Donnell