September 30, 2023
Round Five in Rugby’s National League One saw Cinderford visit Kingsey Road. The Forest of Dean outfit have perhaps, along with Rams, been Chinnor’s closest rivals in recent seasons, with the sides playing each other every season since 2016/17.
Since then, the sides have met both home and away 6 times, producing some remarkable results. The big beasts from the Forest of Dean have a formidable record and reputation at home, yet Chinnor have been able to win 5 matches at Dockham Road, with only a 10-10 draw last season breaking the sequence. However, the results have been very different at Kingsey Road, and whilst a record of three wins each might look to be pretty ordinary, this belies some epic close encounters.
In 2017/18, Cinderford’s only defeat in their title winning campaign was at home to Chinnor, but in muddy conditions in January they produced a text-book “up-the-jumper” performance to claim a 26-12 victory at Chinnor on their way to going on to claim the automatic promotion spot.
Chinnor were promoted with a play-off victory over Sedgley Park to ensure rivalries continued the following season, where Cinderford edged to a 2 point win at Chinnor, but a last minute converted try gave Chinnor a 28-27 victory in 2019/20 as covered by these diaries
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2020/01/chinnor-28-27-cinderford-att-375.html
Cinders narrowly won 33-28 in 2021/22 but a 26-22 win for Chinnor in 2022/23 meant the overall record was three wins each in Oxfordshire.
Cinderford have built a reputation for their formidable forward play but the departure of back row forwards Harry Hone and Matt Lane has potentially weakened their pack. Hone is now turning out for Dings Crusaders, together with ex-Cinderford centre George Boulton. However, a gnarled front-row of George Porter, Nathan Taylor and James Elliot will ensure they will remain combative in the scrums.
Cinderford started the day in 5th position in the league table, after three wins and a loss in their opening four matches, all of which were extremely close. Last week-end they edged out Sale for a 15-12 home win, having previously beaten new promoted Leicester Lions 23-17 at home, and winning 30-28 at Bishop’s Stortford on the opening day of the season.
Their one defeat came in remarkable circumstances at Darlington Mowden Park. With the scores level Cinderford had a chance to win the match with a last-minute penalty. Unfortunately for Cindy, the ball drifted wide of the upright and DMP launched a counter-attack from inside their in-goal area, and went on to score a length of the field match winning try to make the final score 25-20.
Chinnor sat in 7th place with two home wins and two away losses, having followed up the 36-0 thrashing of Sale by going down 21-27 at Sedgley Park.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off time was sunny but the temperature was a chilly 18 degrees. Cinderford were playing in their traditional red, yellow and black hooped shirts, with black shorts.
Cinderford kicked-off, and after Chinnor cleared towards half-way, the visitors kicked straight out for a Chinnor line-out close to the half-way line. Chinnor secured their line-out ball through the giant Merrick and centre Passman made a surging break through a gap in the visitor’s defences but the offload went astray. Chinnor managed to recycle the ball and forced a line-out 5 metres from the Cinderford try line. However, Cinderford won their line-out and were able to take play up to midway in their half.
With 5 minutes on the clock, the home side won a penalty in front of the posts, but they opted to go to the corner. Having secured the line-out, scrum-half Carter went down the blind side, drew the covering tackler and fed Browning to score out wide and intelligently go around to reduce the angle for the conversion. However, the conversion from Bourton was caught in the wind and sailed wide of the far post.
Shortly after the restart, Cinderford gained possession and fly-half Winfield chipped ahead, but after a favourable bounce Forrester knocked on for the first scrum of the game. The scrum was steady, and Passman made another strong run into the Cinderford half, but the Foresters won possession and kicked long, after which Browning kicked straight out on the full.
The Cinderford line-out was messy, but they eventually secured possession only to concede a penalty at the ruck. However, the subsequent line-out from Chinnor was not straight. Flanker Fissenden and centre Forrester both made strong runs from the scrum but Winfield’s chip over the advancing Chinnor defensive line was caught by the covering Carter, who launched a counter attack, and the kick from full-back Price took the Villagers to 5 metres from the Cinderford try-line.
Merrick again won the line-out for Chinnor and the home pack drove for the line. After being held-up, scrum-half Carter made an awful pass after going on a sniping run, and Cinderford were able to win a penalty and get back to close to the half-way line.
Browning then lost possession in the tackle and the Cinderford fly-half again opted to kick, but this time found touch inside the Chinnor 22. Merrick again rose the highest to win the line-out, and after Cinderford infringed Bourton kicked deep into the Cinders 22, and Browning followed up the kick to tackle winger Tonks into touch.
Chinnor again won the line-out and the rolling maul rumbled towards the try-line but after being halted, Smith went for the line only to be stopped short, and the next drive was forced into touch over the try-line. The drop-out from behind the try-line led to a series of drives by Chinnor into the Cinderford 22 but good defence won a penalty.
The impressive Browning made another incisive break, but his attempted offload was intercepted by his opposite number Hendy, but Chinnor had been playing with a penalty advantage. Chinnor launched a high kick which Smith leapt to claim but Cinderford scrum-half Knight was alert to steal the ball when it came out of the ruck and was able to clear their defensive lines again.
The visitors won a penalty near half-way and so had a rare incursion into the Chinnor 22, and after winning another penalty they pointed to the posted, and Winfield sent the straight-forward kick through the uprights to take the score to 5-3 after 34 minutes.
Chinnor’s response was for full-back Price to go on a jinking run, but again the attempted offload was ambitious and Hendy intercepted and kicked deep into the Chinnor 22. Passman was covering, but engulfed by Cinderford tacklers and conceded a penalty for not releasing. With most of the Chinnor side still retreating to their lines, the penalty was quickly taken by Knight, giving Baldwin a simple run to the try-line, and the excellent conversion from Winfield gave Cinderford an unlikely 5-10 lead after 37 minutes.
Chinnor hit back immediately as fly-half Smith ran from the 10 metre line past several would be tacklers to score a thrilling try in the corner, and another excellent conversion, this time from Bourton gave Chinnor a 12-10 advantage.
There was still time for Cinderford full-back Wilcox to send a lovely kick into the Chinnor 22, but the home side stole the line-out and referee blew to end the half. On the balance of play Chinnor probably should have been further ahead, but Cinderford had defended well and it was a close game at the interval.
Whatever was said in the Chinnor dressing room during the break must have had an effect as almost immediately, wing Goss was tackled into touch 10 meters out, but Chinnor had a penalty advantage, which was kicked to 10 metres. With the line-out ball secured, Bourton made a charge for the try-line only to be stopped short, but when possession was recycled, Passman barged over close to the post for the try. Bourton’s conversion took the score to 19-10 after 43 minutes.
Cinderford took play into the Chinnor 22, but a knock-on at a line-out gave Chinnor a scrum, from which they won a free-kick.
A smart kick from Smith found space inside the Cinderford 22. After reworking the ball, the Foresters attempted to run from inside their 22, but full-back Price intercepted and strolled under the posts for the bonus point try. The conversion took the score to 26-10 after 48 minutes.
Chinnor then won turnover ball near half-way, and spread the ball wide to wing Browning, and the on-loan Leicester Tiger chipped ahead and set off on the foot-race for the try line. However, a Cinderford defender seemed to get there first and after a discussion with the touch-judge, the referee awarded a 5 metre scrum to Chinnor. The scrum went side-ways across the pitch, and a penalty was given to Cinderford.
A Cinderford line-out was thrown too long and prop McNulty was able to gather for Chinnor but sloppy play from the home side enable Cinderford to hack clear back up to half-way.
The pressure from the home side eventually told though, as Passman broke through some weak tackling to score down the left-hand side but Bourton’s conversion was unsuccessful.
With the score now 31-10, the game looked to be over but Cinderford started to play some adventurous rugby. After winning a Chinnor line-out they went left then right, but failed to make the break through although they did win a penalty. The subsequent line-out was won, and the rolling-maul rumbled over for a try, with substitute Hodge credited with the score. The difficult conversion from Winfield struck a post and went over to take the score to 31-17.
With around 18 minutes left to play two converted tries would level the score for Cinderford. Chinnor had other ideas though, and after a rolling maul was held up, McNulty dived through a crowd of players and over the whitewash, and with Bourton adding the extras it was now 38-17.
Chinnor full-back Price then kicked to 10 metres from the Cinderford line, and the Chinnor forwards set-up Clementson to score in the corner virtually unopposed. With the difficult conversion missed the score moved to 43-17.
Cinderford continued to run the ball from anywhere without making much progress although the penalties against the home side were clocking up. Full-back Wilcox went on a mazy run but ultimately ran into traffic, and when Chinnor won turnover ball, it was sent out wide for Browning to scorch down the touchline, fend off Hendy, and score in the corner. Although another difficult conversion was missed the score became 48-17 with 6 minutes left to play.
Cinderford continue to search for more tries but the home defence held firm and at the final whistle, Chinnor’s third home win took them to fifth in National League one, whilst Cinderford dropped to 9th, with 4 fewer bonus points.
No comments:
Post a Comment