Chinnor 24-21 Rosslyn Park ( att : 725 )

February 29, 2020

Today’s visitors to Chinnor are Rosslyn Park, and it is third versus second with 5 points separating the two sides. Park are 5 points behind leaders Richmond, and could be top of the table with wins today, and next Friday at home to Richmond.

It is almost mandatory for every review of Rosslyn Park to mention their glorious past and make reference to Prince Obolensky, Andy Ripley and, er…. Oliver Reed. There’s also two John Player Cup Finals in the 1970s.

A close encounter is on the cards, with Chinnor having scored a last minute converted try to snatch a 27-27 draw in the reverse fixture in November, whilst in last year’s fixture, Park scored a last minute try to draw 33-33, and missed the touchline conversion to sneak the win.

The Rosslyn Park line up in both the match programme and on their twitter account includes the extremely talented Craig Holland,  the league’s top try scorer last season with 25 tries for a  mid-table Chinnor side. However, when the teams are announced over the tannoy there are a number of changes to the Rosslyn Park side, and Holland is not playing today. They have ex England prop Paul Doran Jones is on their bench.

Storm Jorge has put the match in jeopardy, but with the rain relating mid-morning, the pitch has been made playable thanks to the efforts of volunteers, players and officials. However, by kick-off, the gale has returned and the temperatures dropped, so it is bitingly cold.

Chinnor kick-off with the strong gale at their backs, but Park’s centre allows the kick to bounce and tries to control with his foot. However, his control is poor and the ball slices into the in-goal area, and pressure from Chinnor forces a five metre scrum. Park repel several drives, but eventually infringe to give May a simple kick for a 3-0 lead.

The lead is short-lived though as from the restart, May’s clearing kick is charged down for ex-Chinnor player Ellis to score under the posts. 3-7 after 5 minutes.

Chinnor respond by pinning Park into their 22, and turn down two straight-forward penalties preferring to kick to the corner instead. However, one line-out is bungled and from the other, winger Worrall thinks he has scored in the corner, but is adjudged to have first put a foot in touch. 

When Park infringe again, finally the points are taken. 6-7 after 18 minutes.

The pattern of the game continues, with Park starved of possession and being forced to defend against waves of Chinnor attacks. 

Chinnor waste chances by failing to win their line-outs. Eventually though prop Rees crosses from very short range for an unconverted try, and Chinnor opt to kick another penalty to make it 14-7 after 32 minutes.

The kick-offs remain the only times Park make it into the Chinnor half, but with half-time approaching, Chinnor are desperate for another score to take full advantage of the elements in their favour. 

A penalty is kicked to the corner, but yet again a line-out is lost. However, Park fail to clear, Chinnor win turnover ball and spread the ball wide. Full-back Harries makes a break and then feeds Worrall to dive for the corner. He lands short of the line but his momentum helps him to bounce over. The touchline conversion looks to be going over but slides just wide of the far post. 19-7 at half time.

Chinnor have totally dominated the first half, and Park have shown very little apart from tenacious tackling and scoring an opportunistic try. Chinnor have probably left 10 points on the field so might regret the number of lost line-outs. 

The wind appears to be getting even stronger so is the lead sufficient ?

The second half starts in a similar vein to the first half. Park kick-off and under no pressure Chinnor knock-on. Park have a series of drives and eventually a forward barges over under the posts. 19-14.

Chinnor enjoy at lot more possession against the gale than Park managed, but a dropped ball in midfield is hacked on, and winger Amadi gets to the ball first to give Park the lead, so after 48 minutes it is now 19-21.

Chinnor respond strongly, with backs and forwards combining to gain territory, and Park continue to infringe. When Park do get the ball, it is usually kicked long with the wind, but straight to Harries who is able to make good yardage in return. Play is mostly around half-way, but Chinnor centre Yayayawa makes one impressive break and again Worrall is forced into touch just short of the try line. Chinnor win a 5 metre line-out but the drive is held up. Park force a penalty from the resulting scrum, and the danger is relieved.

Shortly after, Chinnor’s handling lets them down but the loose ball is hacked beyond the dead-ball line. From the resulting scrum near halfway a Chinnor pass goes astray, Park get the turnover and win a penalty just outside the Chinnor 22. It's a great chance to extend their lead but the kick at goal drifts wide so it stays 19-21 after 70 minutes.

Chinnor lock Dancer then appears to have broken through the Park defensive line and heads to the try line, but is called back as they had been knock-ons by both sides.

With less than 5 minutes remaining, Chinnor continue to press, and a move is halted by a deliberate knock on. The referee shows a yellow card to the culprit. Chinnor are able to kick the penalty to the Park 22, and from the line-out the Chinnor catcher is taken out mid-air and crashes to the ground. Another yellow-card is shown, and with Park now down to 13 men, the penalty is kicked to the corner.

The line-out is won, and with backs joining the drive, hooker Selway is driven over to give Chinnor the lead. 

May’s low conversation looks to be going over, but snakes to the right at the last moment. 24-21 after 78 minutes.

Park need to regain possession from the restart and the kick is low and short. Chinnor though, are able get their hands on the ball, and then wind down the clock with “up-the-jumper” rugby. As soon as time is up, the ball is kicked off the field to clinch a dramatic victory.

Overall, it is a thrilling game and another nail biting finish. Chinnor probably deserved the victory, dominating possession in both halves although not always able to translate this into points. The closeness of the scoreline was mostly down to a malfunctioning line-out, stout defence by Park, and gifting two tries to the visitors.

Rosslyn Park stay second, but are now 10 points behind Richmond, and just two points ahead of Chinnor.

Highlights : https://www.chinnor-rfc.com/videos/chinnor-v-rosslyn-park-highlights-157040.html