Scratch Chinnor Seconds team battle with Barnes

CHINNOR SECONDS XV 15 Pts, Vs Barnes 27 Pts: Away League match – September 12, 2009 – MATCH REPORT:

CHINNOR Seconds played their first league game of the season against Barnes second team on Saturday and with Chinnor fielding five senior sides this weekend, securing players was a huge problem with several players out due to injuries and players not available.

It proved to be more than a challenge when another three players pulled out of the team on Saturday morning. This resulted in a much-changed team to play Barnes.

Chinnor expected the Barnes team be powerful and strong and they weren?t far wrong! Within five minutes of the start one of the game, a Chinnor player found himself isolated and the ball was ripped away from him and Barnes ran in a converted try.
For the next fifteen minutes Chinnor?s game improved and the team settled playing good rugby, exemplified by Ben Farr who took the ball in his own half and darted his way through virtually the full Barnes team to score in the corner – a great individual effort.

He followed that up three minutes later with a penalty and Chinnor were in the lead by eight points to seven. Unfortunately Chinnor lost Bob Harris with a back injury and, due to the shortage of players, Chinnor?s pack was forced to changewhich lost them momentum and dominance.

Jack Bull then followed up chasing a fly kick up field by Harry Hillier, and managed to pick up the ball for a second Chinnor try, converted by Ben Farr.

Five minutes to half time Chinnor were caught napping when Barnes took a quick tap penalty while Chinnor were waiting to scrum for a knock on by Barnes. They scored a soft try under the posts and the score was 15 ? 14 in Chinnor?s favour.

During the extra five minutes of injury time, Chinnor missed several tackles and allowed Barnes another converted try and the first half finished 21 ? 15 in Barnes favour.

Five minutes into the second half, Barnes went further ahead with another penalty. But Chinnor was very unlucky in the third quarter when Harry Hillier was called back for a penalty with an open try line ahead of him because the referee deemed him to be ahead of the kicker and not retreating. The only problem with this was that Harry was the actual kicker. Shortly after Barnes was awarded another penalty in which they were successful.

All the boys played with total commitment on a ground that was unbelievably hard and dusty, and deserve applause for their dedication on the day. The score did not reflect the game. Final score was Barnes 27 ? Chinnor 15.

Man of the match was Ben Farr who had an outstanding 80 minutes of rugby.

With another two players out of the first team for at least eight weeks due to serious injuries, the second team will have to send more players up to the first team.

Next week Chinnor seconds have a local derby against Maidenhead at home and desperately need everyone to be available.

Walter McGuicken

Photo: Man of the match, Ben Farr