Chinnor snatch win over stubborn adversaries

IN a true ‘nip and tuck’ match, Chinnor RFC, with the last play of the match, snatched victory from Old Elthamians by 25-22, on Saturday (Nov 8).

The match was affected by both wind and rain with the visitors from Chislehurst in Kent benefiting from a strong wind at their backs during the first half. The first score of the match went to Chinnor with Alfie To’oala touching down from a driven penalty lineout. Keohane’s conversion put the home side 7-0 ahead on 15 minutes. Just three minutes later, Old E’s Bressons went blind from a scrum and slipped the ball to Renford Bennett, who strolled through the Chinnor defence for a 7-5 score. The Kentish men then went into the lead when the lively Cullen charged down a Chinnor kick and was first to the ball as it crossed the Chinnor line. White converted to put the visitors 12-7 ahead on 22 minutes.

The driving rain slowed the game down for a while. Old Elthamian’s Sullivan was yellow carded on 30 minutes for slapping the ball away as Chinnor threatened. Just three minutes from half-time, Chinnor drew level 12-12 with another driven lineout, this time Hayes being the last man on the ball.

The second half started badly for Chinnor when scrum half Frank Jones was yellow carded for coming in at the side. Old E’s White slotted the resulting penalty to put the visitors 15-12 ahead. Keohane, for Chinnor, squared the scores again with a penalty goal on 50 minutes, 15-15.

 Chinnor re-took the lead with a try from To’oala at the rear of a rolling maul. Keohane’s conversion put the home side 22-15 ahead on 63 minutes. Daring play from the visitors was rewarded with a try from Cullen, converted by White. Old Elthamians eschewed an easy penalty kick in front of the posts for a scrum. After working the ball down the blindside, it was zipped across the open field to Cullen to bag his second try of the day and to tie the scores again.

With a few minutes to go, Chinnor upped the pace and spent the last two minutes on the visitors’ line desperately looking for a winning score. Old E’s Nelmes succumbed to pressure to allow Keohane the easiest of penalty kicks in front of the posts to snatch a 25-22 lead as the referee blew for no side.

SOURCE – Contributed by Dave Winpenny