Win for Chinnor, despite second half reversal

THAME based Chinnor RFC, with a bright first half, held on in the second half to record a 23-19 victory over Cambridge on Saturday (October 25).

Photo by Peter Matthews

Chinnor, benefitting from a strong wind, began the half with two quick penalty goals from Ed Keohane to go 6-0 ahead on 12 minutes. Chinnor, now well in charge, scored two quick tries through their forwards – the first from a rolling maul by Tibbbats and the second after some aggressive picking and driving by Alfie To’oala. Keohane’s conversion of the second put Chinnor ahead 18-0 on 23 minutes. A lovely piece of interplay wide on the left saw debutant Toby Salmon go over in the corner for Chinnor to put them 23-0 ahead at half time.

The second half was a complete reversal of the first with Cambridge scoring all the points and Chinnor none – much to do with the strength of the wind allied to apparent reduced energy levels.

Straight from the kick off, Cambridge put in at a scrum on the Chinnor 22. Liebenberg, Cambridge’s most influential player, darted down the blind side and a few passes and missed tackles later, Cambridge, through James Ayrton, scored under the posts. Boshoff’s conversion put the match score at 23-7. Cambridge, a different side from the first half, continued to push Chinnor and Liebenberg went over on 62 minutes to bring Cambridge closer at 23-12. The turning point in the match came in the 72nd minute when Chinnor received yellow cards for both Nutt and Cambareri. Cambridge upped the pace and scored a try from full back James Stokes on the 77th minute. Boshoff’s conversion put the visitors just 4 points behind at 23-19. Chinnor held on grimly for the final whistle and the victory, earned in the first half and well defended in the second.

 Teams:

Chinnor: Martin Nutt, Robbie Martey, Jack Hayes, Junior Fatialofa, Reuben Haile, Ed Keohane, Frank Jones, Joe Pickett, Jamie Townsend, Guido Cambareri, Ben Manning, Toby Salmon Andy Tibbatts, Ryan Long, Alfie To’oala

Interchanges: Simone Carloni, Dave McKee, Nick Harrison, Reece Boughton, Sam Angell

Scorers:

Chinnor

Tries (time): Tibbatts (16), To’oala (22), Salmon (35)

Conversions (time): Keohane (23)

Penalty Goals (time): Keohane (8,12)

Drop goals (time):

 Cambridge:

Tries: Ayrton (41), Liebenberg (62), Stokes (77)

Conversions: (time): Boshoff (42,78)

 Referee: Rob Warburton

Attendance: 211

Half time score: 23-0

Full time score: 23-19

Star man: Ryan Long (Chinnor)

SOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell