24/10/11….Chinnor ‘steal’ victory – by one point! (Contributed)

CHINNOR used up this season’s luck all in one go with the final play of the match against Exmouth to steal a victory by 20 points to 19.

With Tom Gray returning to the left wing berth for the injured Seymour and Richie Williams starting for the delayed Mark Chase, Chinnor were largely unchanged.

Chinnor started the match brightly with two incisive runs from Stoop which should have resulted in tries but for forward passes and knock-ons at the critical moment. With a missed penalty kick all to show for their superior territory and possession, Chinnor came unstuck in the 23rd minute. Exmouth snapped up loose ball from an overthrown lineout by Chinnor on the halfway line and with their first visit to the Chinnor 22, allied to weak tackling, saw Tom Kill in for an easy try for a 7-0 lead to the home side.

A few minutes later, Chinnor began to resemble the team that has played in their colours since the start of the season. Quick ball from a midfield ruck saw precise movement and passing from the backs allowing Richie Williams in for a try in the corner. With the conversion missed, the match was level at 5-5 going into half time.

On the 53rd minute, the Cockles? Scrum half Adam Garner scored a simple try from 22m out when he picked the ball up at an unguarded ruck and ran straight through the middle under the posts for Exmouth’s second try. With George Meadows? conversion, the home side went into a 12-5 lead. Five minutes later, Garner did exactly the same thing again and with Meadows? conversion, Exmouth were now 19-5 ahead with 20 minutes remaining in the match.

This third score seemed to wake the visitors from their lethargy and they immediately snapped into try scoring mode from a scrum some 30m out. Goode took the ball up and two inside passes later Harrison ghosted under the posts for Chinnor’s second try which was converted by Cathcart. Five minutes later, Cathcart stepped up for a penalty goal which reduced the Exmouth lead to 19-15.

Chinnor then tried desperately to find a winning score but the stern Exmouth defence kept the visitors from Thame at bay. With the final minute to go, Exmouth began to play keep-ball. They went down the blindside on the halfway line where a thunderous Chinnor tackle dislodged the ball. Stoop was quickest to respond, picking the ball up and setting off down the tramlines. His natural speed was enough to get him to the try line before the home side could react. With the conversion attempt failing in the high wind, the referee blew for no side to give Chinnor an unlikely victory and crush the hearts of the valiant home side.

Exmouth always pose a stern test for the boys from Thame. They defended well throughout the match and managed to contain the Chinnor backs well. In the tricky scrum-half Adam Garner, they had a player of great vision who took his opportunities well. They will be devastated to have lost the match with the final play.

This was Chinnor’s poorest performance of the season so far. Although they had lots of territory and possession, they could not build pressure or fashion points. On the two occasions that they looked like the Chinnor team of previous weeks, they scored two beautifully worked tries. The great positive that they will take from this match is their determination to play every minute and not give up. They will be grateful to Sam Stoop for his last second discovery of Chinnor’s ?Get out of jail free? card.

Scorers:
Exmouth: Kill T; Garner 2T; Meadows 2C
Chinnor: Harrison T; Williams T; Stoop T; Cathcart C, PG

Chinnor team:
Williams (Chase 60), Gray, Goode, Stoop, Colver, Cathcart, Jones, Winpenny, Tattersall, Pickett (Whelan 60), Jackman (Devine 64), Smith, Mowbray, Harrison, Gilbert
Replacements: Whelan, Devine, Chase