Chinnor seconds beat Henley in season treble

 CHINNOR RFC seconds completed a season treble over local rivals, Henley, on Saturday. In another closely contested encounter, Chinnor came out on top 20-14.

Having beaten Henley at home in the league and then in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, we knew this was going to be a tough challenge at Dry Leas.

The game started with a bang as Tristan Corpe ghosted through the Henley midfield defence to score a great try under the posts after only two minutes. The try was then converted by Alex Stephenson. Chinnor had the better of the opening exchanges but with seven minutes on the clock, Henley reduced the deficit to 7-3 with a penalty. This was to be a recurring pattern in the game with a penalty count stacked heavily against Chinnor. The referee’s interpretation at the breakdown left Chinnor players and official baffled.

With defences on top, it took until the 16th minute for the next score with Alex Stephenson converting a penalty from out wide, to make the score 10-3.

Henley then responded in the 26th minute with a well worked try scored in the left hand corner. A missed conversion left the score at 10-8 to Chinnor.

A string of penalties against Chinnor followed. With 25 minutes gone the penalty count was already 12-2 against Chinnor. However, the Henley Fly Half was having an off day with the boot and it was Chinnor who extended the lead through a penalty conversion in the 31st minute by Stephenson.

With a minute left of the half, Ed Rixon was yellow carded and Henley reduced the half time score to 13-11.

Henley started the stronger in the second half and deservedly took the lead, albeit for the first and last time in the game, with a penalty that gave them a 14-13 lead.

However, once restored to 15 men, Chinnor showed some real class. From a ruck in midfield, forwards and backs combined in flowing movements, leading to a great run and offload from Ian Stock to Corpe. His pace enabled him to rip through Henley’s backline defence and after standing up the fullback, he popped a pass inside for Max Williams to score. This was converted by Stephenson to put Chinnor ahead 20-14, a lead they never surrendered despite the continuing penalty count and a further yellow card for Ed Vickers.

Once again Chinnor showed true determination to win with great displays by Hastings, Vickers and Rixon. However, Man of the Match goes to Tristan Corpe (pictured) for his all round display.