Sunday 26 January 2020

Chinnor 28-27 Cinderford ( att : 375 )

January 25, 2020

Chinnor and Cinderford have developed a keen rivalry over the past few seasons, starting in  2017/18 when the sides were challenging for the National 2 South Championship. Cinderford won the league that season, losing  only one match ( at home to Chinnor ), and their victory at Chinnor was a masterclass of “up-the-jumper” rugby that would have fans of the 1980’s Pontypool pack purring. Chinnor had to wait another season for promotion. 

The scheduling of the fixtures between the two sides has contributed to a bizarre sequence of results. Matches at Cinderford’s Dockham Road ground have been played early in the season, and Chinnor have narrowly won all four of them. Cinderford’s last two visits to Chinnor have been in late January and they have won both of them. Ominiously for Chinnor, today’s visit is in late January……

The Forest of Dean has a reputation for breeding tough rugby teams, and Cinderford do not disappoint the stereotype. Their forwards are formidable, with an experienced, gnarled front-row, lighthouses in the line-out and an athletic, mobile back-row. This season they also have the highly regarded George Barton from the Gloucester Academy at fly-half. Chinnor though have strengthed their pack this season so an intriging battle is in prospect.

Cinderford arrive today in 10th place, but a win in their game in hand against relegation certainties Hull Ionians, would have them 5th, one place below Chinnor. In the anyone can beat anyone league, Cinderford have beaten league leaders Richmond, but lost to rock bottom Canterbury.

The pitch is in surprisingly good condition given the recent rains, and the weather is dry but cold. However, the skies are grey and the floodlights are on well before the scheduled 3 pm kick-off.

Chinnor start strongly and their forwards dominate the early exchanges. 



From the early pressure, centre Laverock is tackled just short of the line but hooker Selway dives over to score against his former club and May converts.

After 10 minutes Selway scores again from a 5 metre line-out drive and with the difficult conversion successful, its 14-0 to the hosts.

Cinderford slowly get into the game and their rolling maul looks certain to score, but somehow it doesn’t cross the line. However, that is because Chinnor infringe and winger Hodson is sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes to reflect on the error of his ways. Cinderford score from the resulting 5 metre line out but the conversion is missed. 14-7

A mazy run from Cinders full back Tovey takes play back into the Chinnor 22, and when the ball is moved wide, from 60 yards away it looks like there is a knock-on, but the referee waves play on and ex-Chinnor player Jack Hayes scores for Cinderford. After consulting the touch judge the try is award, and Barton nails the conversion from out wide for 14-12.

Chinnor have a spell of pressure and Worrall runs to the Cinderford 22 but his blind inside pass is behind the two supporting players and goes instead to the mass of defenders. A penalty is then conceded and kicked to half-way. Cinderford win their line-out and Barton’s delicate chip with the outside of his foot over the on rushing defenders is gathered by Hayes to run in under the posts for his second try and give an easy conversion. There is now more to Cinderford's play than robust forwards and its 14-19 with about half hour played

Chinnor dominate the rest of the half, but Cinderford defend doggedly, twice it looks like Chinnor have crossed the line but somehow they are pushed back and eventually there is a knock-on, and Cinderford are able to clear and finish the half with the lead.


Chinnor start the second half strongly, and start to earn scrum penalties and steal the visitors line-outs. However, the try refuses to come and Cinderford’s defence continues to hold firm. They concede two penalties for high tackles, but the ref’s yellow card stays in his pocket, and the 5 metre line-out drives are held up. When Chinnor give the ball to the backs, too often they cut back inside to the covering tackler, and one close-in drive ends when a back row forward attempts an American Football style leap over the line of scrimmage but drops the ball.

After nearly 20 minutes of pressure, the dam is eventually breached. After two drives from a 5 metre line-out are stopped, prop Pieterse finally barges over close to the posts. Chinnor regain the lead 21-19.

Its now Cinderford’s turn to spend some time in the opposition half and when Chinnor infringe, they surprisingly decide to go for goal rather than kick to the corner, and Barton’s kick regains the lead 21-22.


Chinnor respond immediately but a promising move is ended by some lazy play by a forward who doesn’t get out of the way quickly enough, and the referee gives a penalty for blocking. Barton, whose kicking out of hand has been impressive all day, kicks from just inside his own half to the corner. From the line-out the forwards rumble over to extend the lead for Cinderford to 21-27 with just over 10 minutes to play. Crucially though, Bartons’ conversion from midway between the touch-line and the posts is off target.

The rest of the match is played in the Cinderford 22 as Chinnor pound away at the Cinderford line. With three Chinnor backs in acres of open space and hollering for the ball, the forwards continue to pick-up and drive and Ocampo, the substitute prop looks to have scored, but the ref deems he has been held-up. Cinderford’s scrum then gets in on the act and win two consecutive scrum penalties and with the clock clicking it starts to look like they will hold on for another away win at Chinnor.

But Chinnor win a Cinderford line-out and a swift backs move returns them into the Cinderford 22. A Cinderford put-in at a scrum flies out of scrum and under pressure they conceed a 5 metre scrum. Chinnor win successive penalties which are kicked to the corner, and finally the referee's patience runs out and a yellow card is  produced with what must be the final play to come. Cinderford take off their full back to bring on a replacement forward, but there is confusion when the full back returns to the pitch. Eventually, the full back has to go-off and play proceeds. After several drives are thwarted, the ball is finally trusted to the backs to take advantage of the extra man. Worrall looks to be about to score but is stop by a great tackle, but he is able to off-load to ex-Welsh international Harries to scoot over in the far corner. 26-27 with the difficult conversion to come.

With most of the Cinderford team charging the conversion, May holds his nerve and his kick from close to the touch-line  goes through the middle of the posts to end a cracking game and the home supporters go wild. 28-27 to Chinnor and a bonus point win !

Its tough on Cinderford but their sequence of January wins at Chinnor comes to an end in dramatic fashion.....

Highlights : https://www.chinnor-rfc.com/videos/chinnor-v-cinderford-highlights-155919.html



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