Rugby: Chinnor glide into top spot

IT was always going to be a tough test for Chinnor on the road at Barnstaple, as the Barum boys boast an impressive home record this season.

Chinnor started the game in business-like fashion with Chinnor dominating the opening period of the game sending the Barum scrum backwards, and the backline finding gaps in the Barum defence. It was only seven minutes in when Harry Mosely drove over to score Chinnor’s opening try which Jonny Bentley converted. Chinnor maintained their pressure and Kieran Goss sliced through some weak defending to dive in at the corner to make it 0-12 . Scoring at a point a minute it was an impressive start.

Barum then began to find their stride and utilised the full width of the field to try and stretch Chinnor’s defence. There was great ball retention by the large Barum pack who went through a number of short phases and eventually inched over the Chinnor (LINE?) with Jarrad Hayler scoring near the posts.

The response from the Chinnor was immediate with a period of sustained pressure in the Barum 22. Persistent offending resulted in a yellow card for Petheridge and Mike McDonald took advantage to snipe over for a try on his first start on the season at Scrum Half, giving Chinnor a 7-17 lead on 21 minutes.

Then the pendulum swung and for the second game on the trot, Chinnor began to be on a different wavelength to the officials with a number of decisions going against the visitors and George Oliver seeing yellow (possibly mistaken identity) for a perceived misdemeanour. Barum slotted the penalty. The Barum forwards kept play simple and effective and with the ability for Chinnor to compete removed, for fear of another yellow, the Devon boys went over shortly before half time to even up the scores with a converted try. With a few seconds left on the clock, Barum were awarded yet another penalty but the kick came off the upright to leave it all square at the break 17-17.

Chinnor started the second half the brighter exerting some control over the game. Alex Bradley galloped in on 43 minutes to put the Oxfordshire side back in front and Jonny Bentley’s successful conversion made it 17-24. Just eight minutes later Jamel Hamilton capped an excellent performance by dotting down on 55 minutes to give Chinnor a two score margin 17-29.
The Barum side, spurred on by their vociferous following, refused to lie down and took the game to the visitors with wave after wave of forward barrages .Their scrumhalf finally scampered over the line on 60 mins to reduce the deficit to 24-29.

Chinnor showed good game management under pressure for the final quarter, frustrating the Barum attack and retaining possession well when in the Barum half, and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the Barum post just outside the 22 which was then made 10 metres simpler through back chat. Bentley duly obliged and gave Chinnor a 24-32 lead which was robustly defended to see out the game. With seconds on the clock, Barum were given a penalty in the Chinnor 22 and took the penalty despite the possible serious foul play against a Chinnor player (which the video footage will possibly verify), to secure a losing bonus point with the last kick of the game. Full Time, 27-32.

Already ecstatic with another hard won five points on the road, the news of Chinnor’s neighbours Henley inflicting a first defeat of the season on Taunton, made the long trip home a lively one! Chinnor are now the only unbeaten side in National 2 South, but face another potential banana skin next week when new boys, Wimbledon, visit Kingsey Road.

SOURCE: Contributed