Chinnor win ‘arm wrestle’ of a match with Cinderford

LAURENCE May held his nerve to land a last-minute conversion and earn Chinnor RFC a thrilling 28-27 victory over Cinderford on Saturday (January 26).

It proved a real battle at Kingsey Road and the hosts came away with five points when Will Harries crossed in the corner and fly-half May expertly kept his cool to add the vital extras. With Rosslyn Park losing at Plymouth Albion, fourth-placed Chinnor are now only four points behind third in National League 1.

The hosts led 14-0 inside ten minutes, with hooker Nick Selway scoring both tries against his former club. The first was a ‘pick and go’ from five metres after Pete Laverick had been stopped short, with the second being a more familiar driving lineout, May converting both. However, Cinderford hit back and scored three tries in the space of ten minutes while Chinnor had Josh Hodson in the sin-bin.

Harry Hone’s unconverted try had reduced the arrears, before Jack Hayes crossed twice in quick succession as the visitors led 19-14 at the break. Chinnor’s response was to dominate the first 20 minutes of the second period and Josh Pieterse drove over, May converting. But Cinderford refused to lie down and a George Barton penalty, as well as George Evans’s try saw them go 27-21 in front with ten minutes to go.

It looked like it was not going to be Chinnor’s day, but they piled on the pressure and with Evans in the sin-bin, they found space for Harries to go over in the corner, before May coolly slotted over the match-winning conversion.

Director’s comments

Director of Rugby at Chinnor, Matt Williams, was full of praise for his Chinnor players as they dug deep to secure what was a dramatic, 28-27 victory at home to Cinderford.

Laurence May converted Will Harries’s try in the last play to earn the Oxfordshire side a bonus-point win in a physical National League 1 contest.
Having dominated most of the second half, it was the least Chinnor deserved, but they showed fantastic character to keep coming at a Cinderford side which defended heroically.

Matt Williams said: “It was a great game, it always is. Chinnor-Cinderford is a match that both clubs really look forward to. We always have a great arm wrestle and it was exactly that. The paying public really enjoyed the game and it went through to the final play when we got over the line.

“I’ve got to give huge credit to Cinderford’s defence though – it was stellar. They kept us out time after time after time and eventually we got over in the corner, but obviously Loz May had to seriously keep his nerve for a difficult kick. Much credit to Laurence, but also much credit to our team for keeping going until the dying death.

“Weaker teams would have rolled over and lost and I’m really proud of the boys, they did a sterling job. The result helped Chinnor close the gap to third-placed Rosslyn Park, who lost at Plymouth Albion, to four points.”

Williams added: “It was a huge win. The last two years Cinderford have come here and given us a good thumping. Backed on from the confidence of last week, to beat Cinderford by one point is all I could ask. To come away with a bonus point win is delightful. We’ve taken ten points from two games now. You can see the confidence and camaraderie in the boys and we’ve just got to keep rolling now.

“It’s solely about worrying about ourselves and taking each game as it comes, but make no bones about it that was a huge win for us and I’m proud of the boys.”

May seemed to be the coolest person in the ground when stepping up to convert from the touchline. The fly-half said: “it was great. I didn’t think I’d put enough on it at one point. We’ve got some great personalities at the club and it’s just great to get everyone around (at the end) and that feeling afterwards is just incredible.

“When we’re winning and playing great rugby, it’s one of the most enjoyable places to be.”