Chinnor Squeek Past Basingstoke (Contributed)

CHINNOR entered unchartered territory when they visited Down Grange to take on Basingstoke on Saturday, in their first league game of the season.
Basingstoke, who were relegated from National League Division 3 South last year, were quickly into their stride putting Chinnor onto the defensive for at least the first 20 minutes.
It came as no surprise when they went into the lead via a Humberstone penalty after Chinnor were caught off-side in front of their posts. With Lovegrove going over from a rolling maul minutes later, then
Gareth Jones scoring after a Buckland break through a porous Chinnor defence, Humberstone added the conversion and Chinnor found themselves 15 points a drift having had hardly any possession to mount attacks of their own.
The line-out was the main culprit with Basingstoke’s big second row calling the shots. Chinnor began to play with more composure and from a quickly taken penalty a speculative kick ahead by Joe Winpenny, saw the ball bounce kindly for the speedy Lloyd Hoogstander to gather and touch down. A Williams’conversion and then a penalty was awarded when Hoogstander was tackled without the ball, putting Chinnor within striking distance at half-time.It was a roll reversal in the second half with Chinnor taking the game to the opposition. Two Richard Williams’ penalties for holding on, and killing the ball in the ruck respectively, resulted in
Chinnor taking the lead and Mantle going into the sin-bin. Chinnor were now dominating. A driving maul saw Chinnor add to their lead when Joe Winpenny went over with Williams converting. Chinnor had now scored 23pts without reply. However the game turned again when an attempted kick to the corner by
Williams was charged down and although Chinnor got to the ball first, they were penalised for holding on and Humherstone put the home side back in contention. A Lambert try in the corner meant the game was all square with at least 15 minutes left on the clock. Basingstoke were penalised for throwing a punch at a line-outand Williams kicked a long penalty to put Chinnor in the lead once more which they held on to the final whistle.
This win was the result of the character that Chinnor
showed by not letting their heads drop after Basingstoke’s initial salvo. They regrouped well under the leadership of acting captain Paul Hennessy who was influential throughout. Richard Williams with his goal kicking and general play, Lloyd Hoogstander with his speed and enthusiam, Joe Winpenny and Mike Cook for their work-rate also had good games in this
solid Chinnor performance.
Basingstoke 23 Chinnor 26
Photo: Chinnor Captain Paul Hennessy with the ball and Morgan Thompson scrum half.