Chinnor prevails in the mud and the murk

IN a mud caked contest, visitors Chinnor RFC overcame Dorking by the narrowest of margins, prevailing 6-5 at the Big Field. In successive weeks, Chinnor have now beaten the top two teams in the league.

Jake Olley, ‘ a beacon of light in an otherwise dull, dank day’

This was a match in which the opposition for both sides was principally the weather and the pitch. The side that understood this best, and played accordingly, was Chinnor whose accommodation in play due to the severe conditions was intelligent. Dorking tried to play in their customary adventurous style but came rather unstuck or perhaps too stuck.

Dorking scored early on with an unconverted try in the corner from Mike Duxbury. Chinnor played territory with very intelligent use of the boot to keep the home side pinned back in their own half for much of the match. Angell scored from two of his three penalty goal attempts in the first half to allow the visitors from Oxfordshire a 6-5 half time lead.

Although the rain actually stopped in the second half, the game was largely a grappling contest with Chinnor’s defence resolute with To’oala, Manning and Long particularly industrious. Dorking had little success with any of their kicks, often failing to make an intended touch. The Chinnor side, which in recent weeks has become the Chinnor team, comfortably held out all comers to convert the half time score into the full time score as no points at all were scored by either side in the second half. This was a tough whole team performance by the Oxfordshire boys. However, the positioning, kicking and running of Chinnor full back Jake Olley was a beacon of light in an otherwise dull, dank day.

SOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell