Chinnor stop top-form Cinderford in their tracks

LEAGUE leaders Chinnor welcomed Cinderford to Kingsey Road yesterday (18/02) with the visitors bang in form, having not lost for over two months.

Kieran Goss’s try photographed by Aaron Bayliss

Full of confidence, the Gloucestershire side fancied their chances of claiming an eighth straight win and derailing Chinnor’s title hopes.

In a game of two very different halves, early Chinnor pressure saw a crash ball try for centre, Charlie Broughton, who went in under the posts after six minutes converted by Bentley for 7-0.

The visitors replied straight from the restart with a try in the corner by winger Harry Robinson. Full back, James Moffat, missed the extras but made up for it a few minutes later by intercepting a Chinnor attack and running fully 80 metres to go in under the posts. He converted his own try for 7-12 lead after 18 minutes.

From the restart, Cinderford, who were comfortable and confident in their own game, turned the Chinnor ball over and pushed back up field. Harry Robinson picked up from the ensuing ruck and ran down the blindside unchallenged to score his second try of the afternoon. Moffat missed the conversion but their lead was extended to 17-7.

A stunned Chinnor needed to up their game but despite having the bulk of possession and territory for the remainder of the half, Cinderford’s defence was outstanding and kept them out until the last minute when a Jonny Bentley penalty made it 17-10 at the interval.

Early Chinnor pressure after the break led to a succession of pick and drives in the visitor’s 22, and a second Bentley penalty under the posts narrowed the score to 17-13.

Liam Hemming missed a long-range penalty shortly after the restart for Cinderford, and Chinnor came storming back with a superb second try by Charlie Broughton after an incisive break from full back Kieran Goss. The conversion was missed by Bentley for an 18-17 lead to Chinnor.

The hosts were now in full flow and after several phases of play and an impressive line break by prop Jay Tyack, Ben Manning went over. The referee instead awarded a penalty try for a high tackle in the act of scoring although this went unconverted. Chinnor now led 23-17 with 15 minutes remaining.

Chinnor’s fourth and bonus point try came after 71 minutes when scrum half Josh Davies swooped over from a 5 metre scrum and gave the hosts a two score margin 28-17.

The try of the game came with four minutes left when a Cinderford clearance kick was collected by the outstanding Kieran Goss in his own half and with seemingly nothing on glided through the Cinderford defence to score near the posts.

Bertie Hopkin converted the extras but the Villagers weren’t quite done. Straight from the restart in the last minute, Chinnor broke from a ruck and Star man Josh Davies went in for his second try. Hopkin again converted and that’s how it finished 42-17.

Great credit to both sides for a tremendous game. Cinderford were terrific in the first half but Chinnor turned it around after the break with five unanswered tries which sent the majority of the bumper crowd home happy!

Teams

Chinnor
Kieran Goss, Luke Hibberd, Danny Barnes ©, Charlie Broughton, Henry Lamont, Jonny Bentley, Josh Davies, Tom Price, Mark Darlington, Joe Hutchinson, Nathan Hannay, CJ Osazuwa, Ben Pienaar, Alex Bradley, Tom Burns

Interchanges: Jay Tyack, Koree Britton, Ben Manning, Bertie Hopkin, Junior Fatialofa

Cinderford
James Moffat, Harrison Yorke, Sam Goatley, Rob Winchle, Harry Robinson, Liam Hemming, Alex Frame, George Porter ©, Henry Walker, James Tideswell, Dale Lemon, Ed King, Jack Shields, Will Keenan, George Evans

Interchanges: Ciaran Knight, Joe Smart, Adam Balding, Aaron Ryan, Reuben Norville

Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Broughton 5, 53, Penalty 63, Davies 71, 79 Goss 76
Conversions (time): Bentley 6, Hopkin 77, 80
Penalty Goals (time): Bentley 40, 45

Cinderford
Tries (time): Robinson 10, 22, Moffat 15
Conversions (time): Moffat 16
Penalty Goals (time):

Referee: Mr Philip Davies
Attendance: 843
Half time score: 10-17
Full time score: 42-17
Star man: Josh Davies – Chinnor

SOURCE: Contributed by Richard Jarvis