Narrow defeat for improved Chinnor

TAUNTON, having lost only one match this season, had to dig deep to put away the side that have only won once this season, recording a narrow 25-23 victory over Chinnor who will feel that one got away.

Taunton got away to ‘a flyer’ with Hales scoring wide out in the first minute. Chinnor’s Millett reduced the deficit to 5-3 with a penalty goal after 10 minutes. Chinnor, with a fierce wind at their backs, saw a lovely handling movement finish with Beer going over. Millett converted to put the home side ahead 10-5. Millett and Kingdom traded penalty goals and from the restart the ball was unfortunately deflected into the hands of Taunton hooker Gatford, who had an easy stroll to the line to level the score at 13-13. Millett’s penalty goal just before half time saw Chinnor go in 16-13 ahead.

With Vandermolen in the sin bin, Taunton took advantage with a try from Chapman after a penalty line out drive. Kingdom’s conversion put the visitors 20-16 ahead with 20 minutes to go. Taunton went further ahead when Chinnor fumbled their own lineout leading to a yellow card for Burns and, eventually, a try for Taunton’s Cooper for a 25-16 lead and a bonus point.

Chinnor kept attacking and were rewarded for sharp handling when Fatialofa dotted down. Millett’s conversion closed the score to 25-23 to Taunton, but time ran out leaving Taunton narrow winners.

This was a real old fashioned team performance from the Chinnor boys and a real indicator that fortunes are at last beginning to change.

Chinnor
Marcus Beer, Robbie Martey, Jack Adams, Junior Fatialofa, Jake Olley, Will Millett, Frank Jones, Jamie Townsend, Mark Darlington, Andy Darlington, Andy Tibbatts, Ben Manning, Tom Burns, James Tyas (c) Joe Vandermolen

Interchanges Andy Berry, Joe Pickett, Ryan Long, Greg Goodfellow, Salvo Palormes

Taunton
Gary Kingdom (c), Nick Mason, Freddie Fraser, Josh Jones, Jack Claydon, Joe Simmonds, Lewis Webb, Jake Woolmore, Jon Gatford, Jake Caulfield, Stuart Persey, Duncan Hales, Brett Harvey, Dan Frost, Sam Prior

Interchanges Alex Spurdle, George Cooper, Barrie-John Chapman, Jamie Fleming, Toby East

Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Beer (12), Fatialofa (69)
Conversions (time): Millett (13, 70)
Penalty Goals (time): Millett (9, 17, 36)

Taunton
Tries (time): Hales (1), Gatford (18), Chapman (58), Cooper (65)
Conversions (time): Kingdom (59)
Penalty Goals (time): Kingdom (15)

SOURCE: Contributed