Chinnor 5-21 Richmond ( att : 625 )

December 21^st, 2019

Chinnor welcomed top of the table Richmond knowing that a victory and other results going their way could leave them top of the table at Christmas. A good crowd were in attendance ( and it looked more than the official figure ! ), grateful that the incessant rain had stopped before kick-off and held-off until after the match finished. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing day for the home supporters and Richmond were deserved winners.

However, the gulf between the teams was not very large, and Richmond won because they were much more efficient on the day than Chinnor in key areas. Richmond were highly disciplined, hardly ever gave the ball away and were able to retain for long periods, had a great defence, and kicked their penalties. Gibbs, their bald scrum-half was the stand-out player of the day. That said, they were not particularly dangerous in attack and it is clear why they have not earned a large amount of try bonus points, and Chinnor had a clear advantage in the scrum. Richmond though were very cute in managing the scrums, making sure there was always 2 or 3 re-sets ( and sometimes more ! ), before the penalty was awarded to Chinnor, and would invariably then steal the line-out. They also benefited from some laissez-faire refereeing of the offsides.

Chinnor though simply made too many unforced errors to win the match. At least four line-outs from promising positions were lost, on at least four occasions they knocked on in the tackle when in the Richmond 22, and also missed a straightforward penalty in the first half with the score 0-10.

Richmond started brightly but Chinnor survived the early pressure. The match was becoming even when Richmond were awarded a penalty from a ruck just inside the Chinnor half, and the long range penalty was successful for 0-3. Shortly after, a series of Chinnor errors lead to Richmond getting into the Chinnor 22 and after a series of drives were repelled, the fly-half was able to cross under the post, and the conversion made it 0-10 after about 20 minutes.

Chinnor then dominated the next 15 minutes, butchered several chances, and a kick at goal before a clearing kick was charged down, and from the subsequent drives Richmond’s forwards barged over in the corner. Another error then gave Richmond possession and on the half-tine whistle another penalty was interestingly kicked to make it 0-18 at half-time – most other teams in the division would have kicked to the corner and gone for the try.

Chinnor started the second half brightly but another error gave Richmond possession and as they worked it through the phases, they earned another ruck penalty from long range, which was successfully kicked for 0-21.

At this point it might have turned into a rout, but the rest of the match was Chinnor attack versus Richmond defence, but frankly, for most of the time Chinnor rarely looked like getting past the gain line as the Richmond defence held firm.

With just over 5 minutes to go, a Chinnor scrum caused havoc in the Richmond defence, and somehow it was Selway, the hooker scored in the corner. Unfortunately, the touch line conversion hit the post so making it unlikely that Chinnor would able to salvage a losing bonus point in the closing minutes.

Nevertheless, the rest of the match was played virtually on the Richmond line. With 82 minutes on the clock, Chinnor looked to have scored in the corner although it was ruled in-touch, but the ref decided there was a deliberate knock on by the Richmond scrum-half who was sent to the sin-bin.

Play was then held up for at least 5 minutes as the referee spoke to both sides, and with most of the crowd having no idea what was happening, but play started with an uncontested scrum. Afterwards I was informed that one of Richmond’s props had also been sent to the sin-bin and Richmond were down to 13 men.

Chinnor were again forced into touch, but rather than blow for full time the ref gave a line out to Richmond, which they then won and then kicked into touch to end the game. A bizarre finish to a match where the points had already been settled.

So, overall, the best team won and Richmond were just too savvy on the day. There are now three teams on 59 points, Richmond, Rosslyn Park & Rams ( or Readingensians as they used to be known ). Chinnor slip to sixth, 9 points behind.

Highlights : https://www.chinnor-rfc.com/videos/chinnor-v-richmond-highlights-154687.html