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