Four home victories in a row for Chinnor!

CHINNOR produced one of their most complete performances of the season to secure a 37-27 win over Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday (14/12).

Tries from Will Harries, Jason Worrall, James Tyas, Dan Southworth and Kieran Goss helped the Oxfordshire side make it four home victories in a row and extend their unbeaten run to seven.

Hooker Nick Selway looking to break the gain line. Image – David Howlett

It proved an attritional affair and a vital victory for Chinnor over a side they had started the day level on points with in National League 1.

Darlington took an early lead when Josh Hodge crossed on five minutes, Warren Seals converting, but the hosts levelled moments later through Harries’s score, Laurence May adding the extras.

The visitors were the better side in the opening 20 minutes and led 15-7 through Max Davies’s try and a Seals penalty. Chinnor responded well, though, to head into the break 18-15 in front as two May penalties sandwiched a fine try from Worrall.

The hosts made a dream start to the second period when Tyas drove over, May converting, to make it 25-15. Darlington hit back as tries from Rob Farrar and Oliver Walker hauled them into a two-point lead after 56 minutes, but Chinnor were not to be undone. Southworth drove across, May converting, for the four-try bonus point, before Goss raced over out wide with four minutes to go to put the game beyond Mowden.

Matt Williams, Director of Rugby, said Chinnor’s performance against Darlington Mowden Park was the ‘most pleasing’ yet as they stretched their record unbeaten run in the third tier to seven games.

Starting the day level on points with Mowden, fourth-placed Chinnor have now opened up a four-point gap over the teams below them. And it sets up a thrilling end to 2019 as leaders Richmond, who are five points in front of the Oxfordshire side, visit Kingsey Road on Saturday.

Darlington had headed to Thame on the back of scoring 22 tries in their last five games, but Chinnor proved they were capable of outscoring the County Durham side. Matt Williams added: “That was the most pleasing performance of the season. I thought as an 80-minute game goes, it was the most controlled we’ve been.
We looked very dangerous with ball in hand, we crossed the gain line literally every time we touched it, and we were composed.

“We made a few errors defensively that gifted them a couple of tries, but I think overall that’s our strongest performance of the season. It was two very strong teams, both in-form, the boys were looking forward to it and we carried on – it’s seven in a row now. It feels like a big win.

“It’s about momentum and suddenly Kingsey Road is becoming a tough place to come again. The boys are in a buoyant mood, it feels good, there’s a nice buzz in the group and we are very much looking forward to welcoming Richmond on Saturday.”