January 6, 2023
These diaries have covered two previous meetings between these two sides, both of which were victories for Chinnor against Park sides near the top of the table at the time. In fact, when they met last April Chinnor produced arguably their best ever performance in National League One to hammer promotion chasing Park 55-19 with an irresistible display.
Park were even stronger favourites to win today starting the day in third place in the table whilst Chinnor languished in 10th, and no doubt Park would be looking to make amends for their last visit to Kingsey Road.
Park had made a typically strong start to the season, winning their first six matches to underline their promotion credentials. However, having stumbled and failed to earn promotion in the last three completed seasons, Park have already begun to face familiar accusations of bottling promotion again, losing 4 of their next 8 games to be 8 points adrift of leaders Sale, and 4 points behind Rams but from one more game played.
The losses came at the hands of promotion rivals Rams ( H 21-29 ), Cambridge ( H 30-32 ) & Sale ( A 15-24 ), and in a mud-bath at Plymouth ( A 10-13 ). Ex-Chinnor try-machine Craig Holland was Park’s leading point scorer with 103 points so far this season, Number 8 Matt Bolwell make 10 appearances for Chinnor during two loan spells from Cornish Pirates in 2014 and 2015, and flanker Arthur Ellis started his career at Chinnor as a hooker.
The return fixture between the two sides was also under Friday night lights, as Park comfortably won 42-14 at The Rock in September in front of a crowd of 620, with three converted tries in the last 15 minutes, and Holland being 100% from 6 kicks from the tee.
Today was the first time Chinnor had hosted a Friday night floodlight league game against anyone other Rams, both of which attracted bumper crowds.
The last time Chinnor featured in these diaries they slumped to a disappointing home defeat to lowly Esher, after which Director of Rugby Richard Thorpe left his post. Chinnor then turned in a creditable performance at Cambridge, taking two bonus points from a 27-31 loss, and then won 29-15 at bottom side Hull. They sat only one point clear of the relegation places, but had two matches in hand over Taunton and Esher.
Chinnor then announced the appointment of a new Director of Rugby, ex-England back row forward Nick Easter ( 54 caps, and appearances in three separate World Cups ), who was defence and forwards coach at Worcester Warriors until their administration and suspension from the Premiership. Unfortunately for him, Chinnor’s first two fixtures since his appointment were both victims of the recent cold snap, so Easter has had to wait just under a month to see his new charges in action.
One new feature at Chinnor was the opening of a new bar by the scoreboard on the far side of the ground, which meant it was much easier to get a drink from that side of the field, rather than having to traipse around to the other side, where most of the spectators were located !
Park kicked-off with the usual Chinnor strong breeze at their backs, and although the temperature was supposed to be 10 degrees on a dry evening, it was decidedly chilly. The opening phases were scrappy, Chinnor twice kicked straight out , Park knocked on in midfield, and kicked the ball dead. Chinnor then lost control of the ball at a scrum, Park gained possession, but the ball was then turned over.
Out of the blue, Park executed a flowing move from a line-out, creating a 2 on 1, and full-back Henry Robinson drew the last man and gave the pass for wing Charlie Walker to have a simple run to the corner. Holland’s attempted low conversion across the wind drifted just wide, but it was 0-5 to the visitors after 6 minutes.
Straight from the restart, Chinnor’s tap back was poor and fell kindly for Walker to gather and break to the Chinnor 22, but Feeney’s fine tackle prevented a second try. However, Chinnor’s respite was brief and Park’s other wing, Benji Marfo picked up a loose ball in midfield and showed impressive pace to scorch through the middle of the Chinnor defence and score under the posts. Holland’s easy conversion gave Park a 0-12 lead after 10 minutes to silence the home crowd.
With the elements in their favour, it looked like Park could race into a huge lead by half-time and put the game out of Chinnor’s reach, and this early into the game it didn’t look as if the change of management had made any difference as Chinnor’s defensive short comings appeared to be still prevalent.
Chinnor full-back Nick Smith made a good break to take play into the Rosslyn Park 22, and with a penalty advantage, the ball was thrown wide but the visitors’ defence was sound. Chinnor kicked the resultant penalty to 5 metres, and crashed over from the line-out, and although prop Josh McNulty was credited by tannoy announcer, flanker Max Clementson received the congratulations from his team-mates. Smith’s touch-line conversion slid just wide into the wind, so it stayed 5-12 after 15 minutes.
Chinnor pressed again, and a high tackle on Darlington forced the hooker to leave the field, and another high tackle on Goss led to a penalty advantage, but Feeney’s chip ahead was touched down by a Park defender. However, play went back for the penalty and after another kick to 5 metres, another catch and drive saw flanker Max Clementson credited with his and Chinnor’s second try. Smith’s great conversion levelled the scores at 12-12 with 24 minutes on the clock.
The pressure on Park was shown as Holland mis-judged his kick with the wind, and went dead again, and from the scrum on half-way, Feeney’s chip ahead took a fortunate bounce over the covering Park defender for wing Hammond to gather and head toward the Park try-line, but Park tackled well and a spell of end to end play ensued. Hammond then made a scintillating run down the wing but after a pass inside, Park were pinged for an offence.
Chinnor kicked to the 22 metre line, but a series of attacks came to nothing and Park forced a knock-on, and then won a penalty at the scrum. However, Chinnor stole the line-out, Smith made a great run through the heart of the visitor’s defence, and then passed inside to scrum-half Luke Carter to canter over close to the posts to leave Smith with an easy conversion. Remarkably, Chinnor had turned the game around to lead 19-12 after 36 minutes.
To their credit, Park responded well to falling behind, and camped in the Chinnor 22 for the rest of the half. A 5 metre line-out was well defended by Chinnor, and wave after wave of attacks from Park failed to make the break-through, and eventually Chinnor won a penalty, which they were able to kick into touch to end the half.
At the interval, the mood amongst the Chinnor faithful was positive, having come-back from a poor start to take the led against the wind, it was hoped that their side would be able to being to score more points with the conditions in their favour.
Indeed, the home side started the second half strongly, with a strong burst to the 22 line but knocked on to end the danger. However, Chinnor continued to press, won a penalty and again kicked to the corner, but threw long from the line-out.
Park were able to kick clear but only made 15 yards progress, but again Chinnor’s throw went long. The pressure eventually told though, and after Park lost possession just outside their 22, fly-half Feeney scooped up the loose ball to motor under the posts for another try to extend Chinnor’s lead, and Smith’s conversion took the score to 26-12 with 45 minutes on the clock.
Although Park now enjoyed a period of possession they struggled to make head-way out of their 22 as Chinnor tackled like demons, and eventually Park infringed to give Chinnor a penalty in front of the posts about 30 metres out. With the try bonus point already secured, Chinnor opted for the points, and Smith extended the lead to 29-12 to leave the visitors needing three scores with half an hour to play.
From the restart, Chinnor reclaimed the ball and Feeney was able to send a fabulous kick deep into the Park 22. The referee then had a choice of offences from the visitors, being offside and/or off their feet at a ruck, and dissent at the decision resulted in 10 yards, to give a simple kick to the corner. Although the throw didn’t look too straight, the referee allowed play to continue and hooker Darlington was on the end of the rolling maul for another try but the conversion attempt sailed wide. 34-12 after 55 minutes.
Park were now winning a number of penalties, but their quick tap and goes failed to make too many in-roads against the determined home defence. Park’s play became increasing desperate with a lot of frantic passing amongst their backs.
Increasingly, the body language of the Park sided looked like that of a beaten side, and one with the world against them. After another move hit a brick wall, Chinnor chipped back into the Park 22 and although Howard made a good claim, he was pinged for not releasing. This time Chinnor’s line out was ruled not straight and Park were able to slowly work their way up-field. However, their line-out just inside the Chinnor half was stolen and the home side were able to take play back into the Park 22. Park full-back Robinson was shown the yellow card for what appeared to be dissent, and from the inevitable 5 metre line-out debutent Finn Theobald Thomas, on loan from Gloucester, was on hand to score. Smith delivered another great conversion to take the score to 41-12 with 4 minutes remaining.
If the spectators thought that was going to be the end of the scoring, Park contrived to concede another try as their kick-off went straight to Chinnor winger Kieran Goss, who raced 60 metres down the wing and then put down under the posts to leave Smith with another easy conversion to take the score to 48-12.
The final whistle blew a minute or so later, to give new the new Chinnor coach a fabulous result from his first match in charge, and on the basis of this evidence, Chinnor should comfortably move away from any relegation battle. On the other hand, Rosslyn Park didn’t look like promotion material, although that is now 4 consecutive matches at Kingsey Road without a win, so perhaps Chinnor are their bogey side.
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