Chinnor dominate Barnes in the wind

IN a match much affected by fierce winds, Chinnor overcame Barnes in their first ever league meeting by 35-25.

After a penalty goal to the visitors by O’Toole, Chinnor began to dominate scoring in the first half hour, with three tries. Oliver went over after a series of goal line pick and drives. Goodfellow bamboozled the Barnes defence by running in a try from half way, dancing in the tram lines throughout.The third try in the sequence was probably the best of the match when Adams broke through, off loaded to Fatialofa who, under pressure, slipped the ball in the tackle to Manning who dotted down for a 15-3 lead to Chinnor.

Fortunes then dramatically reversed and Barnes ran in their own trio of tries in a 7 minute purple patch with Lewis, Alteirac and O’Toole scoring. O’Toole’s conversion at the break gave Barnes a 20-15 lead. Chinnor levelled on 52 minutes with a try from Oscar Heath. Hopkin’s wind defying conversion gave Chinnor a 22-20 lead. Barnes benefitted from a Chinnor kick that went dead in goal and brought play back to the Chinnor 22. From the scrum, Barnes pressure down the right brought a try from Cornish to complete the visitors scoring for the afternoon and a three point lead.

Chinnor, through Hopkin, then used the gusting wind at their backs to score two long range penalty goals for a 28-25 lead. A few minutes before full time, Adams carved straight through the visitor’s defence for try under the posts. Hopkin’s conversion closed the match out for a 35-25 victory for Chinnor.

This was a curious match in which Chinnor showed dominance for most of the match except for a 7 minute deep sleep in which Barnes scored three tries.

Barnes to their credit never kicked the ball and kept it in hand throughout. Whether it was adapting to the strong wind or the desire to play a high tempo game, it produced a great spectacle for those on the touch line.

The Chinnor pack were strong and resolute. Adams’ influence was evident in the scoring of two top quality tries. However the astonishing work rate of Ben Manning made the biggest contribution to the victory. His lung busting support run to score the third try was particularly special.

Teams

Chinnor
Oscar Heath, Marcus Beer, Jack Adams, Junior Fatialofa, Salva Lloret, Bertie Hopkin, Greg Goodfellow , Andy Berry, Mark Darlington, Jay Tyack, Darren Oliver, Tom Burns, Ben Manning, James Tyas ©, Joe Vandermolen

Interchanges: Andy Darlington, Jamie Townsend, Andy Tibbatts, Frank Jones, Jake Olley

Barnes
Tom O’Toole, James Greenwood, Daniel Holmes, David Butler, Kristopher Cottenden, Gareth Williams-Davies, Hamish Reeves, Tom Galvin, Edouard Alterac, Richard Matthews ©, Alexander Crane, Jamie Collins, Richard Mortimer, Robert Malaney, Rupert Crossland

Interchanges: Tom McArthur, William Armitage, Thomas Kynge, Jack Franklin, Matthew Cornish

Scorers

Chinnor
Tries (time): Oliver (14), Goodfellow (25), Manning (31), Heath (52), Adams (74)
Conversions (time): Hopkin 53, 75)
Penalty Goals (time): Hopkin (65, 68)

Barnes
Tries (time): Lewis (33), Alteirac (37), O’Toole (40)
Conversions (time): O’Toole (40)
Penalty Goals (time): (O’Toole)

Referee: Neil Chivers
Attendance: 288
Half time score: 15-20
Full time score: 35-25
Star man: Ben Manning (Chinnor)