Another Scalp For Chinnor Seconds

MATCH REPORT – Chinnor 2nd, 24 Pts vs. Cambridge Uni 2nd, 17 Pts; Saturday, 28th October- Away Friendly Game.
Scorers:
Tries: Darren Oxley x 2, Richard Grimsdell and Jamie Hiscock.
Conversions: 2 by Richard Grimsdell

CHINNOR seconds added another great scalp to their list of wins when they beat Cambridge University seconds in a friendly game at Kingsey Road on Saturday.
A friendly is a contradiction of terms when it refers to a rugby game with no quarter given, even if one of the opposition is a Chinnor Club player doing his degree at Cambridge, as was the case with Alex Thompson.
It was always going to be a tough and fast game which is just what transpired from the first kick. However, Chinnor had a bit more of an advantage up front, which is one of the team?s strengths.
An interception by Cambridge gave them the first points on the board after 15 minutes, but the teams were evenly matched and it was not untill the 30th minute that Chinnor broke the Cambridge defence with Darren Oxley breaking inside to score. A conversion by Richard Grimsdell gave Chinnor the lead, 7 points to 5.
Ten minutes later Oxley made the same break to split the Cambridge defence and scored under the post, followed again by a Grimsdell conversion. This was followed just two minutes later by a great run by Jamie Hiscock who added another five points. All this was due to some good teamwork being carried out by both forwards and backs. The first half finished with Chinnor 19 points to 5 in the lead.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first with both sides attacking and defending as if their lives depended on it. Cambridge drew first blood with another interception try from their own 22 metre line with a converted try which cut the deficit to 19 points to 12. This was followed with another try and the points were 19 to 17 in Chinnor?s favour.

It was a very tight game that could go any way at that stage and, although Chinnor seemed to be in control at all times, the Uni defence held up well. With five minutes to go and after some great play between forwards and backs, Grimsdell scored in the corner and took the game away from Cambridge University.

Chinnor seconds finished the game 24 points to 17.
All 19 players played well and man of the match was awarded to Joe Iosefo for his consistent outstanding play, not only this week but every time he dons the Chinnor shirt. It can?t be long before we lose him to the first team.

Thanks to Cambridge for travelling so far; hopefully we will be able to reciprocate at some stage for a return game.
Walter McGuicken
Second Team Manager