Chinnor ‘up-beat’ for Titans’ match

MATT Williams, Director of Rugby, is calling on his Chinnor players to build on last week’s pulsating, late victory over Cinderford and stay on the heels of the top three.

The Thame-based side head to Rotherham Titans this weekend bidding to make it three-straight wins in National League 1, while they are unbeaten in five games on the road. With ten rounds remaining, there is still plenty of rugby to be played while Rosslyn Park’s defeat at Plymouth Albion last week saw Chinnor cut the gap to third place to four points. The Oxfordshire club are in an upbeat mood, but know they can ill-afford to take Titans, who sit third from bottom, lightly.

Williams said: “There’s a lot of confidence in the squad. There’s been many times this season where the final bounce of the ball has gone against us, but it went in our favour on Saturday and moments like that can often create a swing in the season. We know what’s coming on Saturday. Rotherham are fighting for their lives at the moment at the other end of the table. They’re a better team than where they are, they know that, so on a small narrow pitch we know what’s coming.”

Williams added: “It’s about the coming week, not what we’ve done in the past, but at this key stage of the season momentum is very important. We’ve had two good wins in a row now, our away form is strong, we like a bus trip, so we’re looking forward to what Rotherham will bring.”

There is quite a former Titans contingent at Chinnor, with Josh McNulty, James Tyas, Jack Ramshaw, Ben Thomas, Carl Kirwan, Willie Ryan and Joe Rees all previously spending time at Clifton Lane. Caolan Ryan was also at Rotherham, but will not be involved this weekend due to concussion.

SATURDAY’S SQUAD (February 1, 2020)
Chinnor (v Rotherham Titans, away): from Ashby, Dancer, Ehizode, Harries, Hoadley, Hodson, Kirwan, Laverick, Manning, May, McNulty, Parilli-Ocampo, Pieterse, Ramshaw, Rees, W Ryan, Selway, Treviranus, Tyas, Worrall, Yawayawa, Watson.