Chinnnor Seconds Vs Barnet Firsts – Match Report (Contributed)

CHINNOR RFC seconds are becoming accustomed to taking on challenges presented to them. This time against Barnet 1st, which plays in the London Three League. Chinnor rose to the challenge of higher quality opposition for the sixth time this season, due to a lack of teams willing to play Chinnor seconds.
Tom Wood was unable to lead his boys out this week due to injury and the job was left in the capable hands of Alan Cawston and other senior players. The game as usual was very physical and hard, which the seconds have come to expect when they play opposition from higher leagues.
Once again they welcomed three new young players Rob Fenwick, Matt Woodward and Pete Elson with all having outstanding games.
Chinnor Played into a very strong wind in the first half and prevented Barnet from using it to their advantage, with the forwards keeping control of the ball. It took Chinnor 15 minutes before getting the first points on the board with some good forward drives. Rob Fenwick scored and James Hewitt converted it. Shortly afterwards Barnet equalized with a converted try, followed by a penalty which gave them a lead of 10 points to 7 at the end of the first half. This was quite acceptable having played into a very strong wind for 45 minutes.
Chinnor started the second half with the wind at their backs, and within three minutes, James Dollery kicked a ball from of his own 22 meter line, which was chased down and picked up by Matt Woodward who out ran Barnet and scored near the posts. This was then duly converted by James Hewitt followed minutes later by a successful penalty by him and Chinnor was up 17 points to 10 within five minutes of the second half.
It was a bit of a stalemate for the next 15 minutes until Chinnor increased their lead with another penalty by Hewitt making it 20 points to 10. In the latter part of the game Henry Lee scored which James Hewitt converted and Chinnor increased their lead to 27 points to 10.
It was quite a compliment to be told by the Barnet coach that the Chinnor discipline in defence and attack was great to watch. He also named Danny Burns, Matt Woodward and Alan Cawston as outstanding players.
Pete Nayler pipped Danny Burns as man of the match.

Walter McGuicken