February 3, 2024
Today saw the rearranged fixture between Chinnor and Sedgley Park, which was originally scheduled to be played on January 20th but was called off due to the cold snap freezing the pitch.
In their last match before the Christmas break, Chinnor hosted Rams in a top of the table clash, and after an enthralling encounter in front of a record-breaking crowd of 2,437, they emerged victorious 21-7 to head the National League One table at the end of the year.
When the league resumed after a three-week gap, Chinnor faced a perilous visit to Sale FC. Although Sale were bottom of the table at the time, Chinnor had lost on all 5 previous visits to Heywood Road, but they broke their duck with a convincing 47-10 victory to retain their place at the top of the table. The game though was by all accounts much closer that the scoreline might suggest.
With the match against Sedgley Park being postponed, Chinnor lost top spot as Rams played and won, and despite a thumping 57-0 victory at Cinderford last week, Chinnor stayed in second place one point behind Rams. However, a win today would see them return to the summit of the table.
Sedgley Park Background
Sedgley Park won promotion from National League 2 North and had been enjoying a tremendous season. They started the day in 6th place with 9 wins, one draw and 6 losses. They were one of only three teams to have defeated Chinnor this season, winning 27-21 at home back in September. However, they were yet to win in 2024, drawing last week 24-24 at home to Rosslyn Park, and going down 7-28 at Rams and 17-24 at home to Blackheath.
Sedgley Park are located in Whitefield in Greater Manchester and are known as the Tigers. They have an illustrious history since the professional era, winning promotion to the second level of English rugby in 20023/04, where they enjoyed 5 seasons until being relegated as part of a league restructuring for 2009/10. The Tigers then spent four seasons back in the third tier before being relegated, until returning this season.
Previous Meetings
Apart from the league match earlier this season, Chinnor and Sedgley Park had met once before, contesting the 2017/18 play-off between the runners-up in National League 2 South and North. In front of a crowd of 1,378, Chinnor edged home 40-31 in a tremendous game of fluctuating fortunes to win promotion to National League One.
Sedgley Park Squad
Perhaps the most notable name in the Sedgley Park squad was South African fly-half/centre Warren Seals, who left Darlington Mowden Park in the summer. He first played for DMP in 2015 and was the Division’s top points scorer in the curtailed 2020/21 season with an incredible 267 points. Seals had 144 points so far this season, but with just one try amongst them.
Hooker Daniel Maher was the Tigers top try scorer with 9 tries and also a survivor of the play-off game in 2018. Other survivors for Sedgley were backrow forward Mark Goodman, lock Robert Birtwell, captain and centre Matthew Riley, and wing Andrew Riley. In contrast, none of the Chinnor side played in the play-off match, Kieran Goss missing out through injury.
Matchday Information
A surprise selection for Sedgley Park was the appearance of Dutch international tight-head prop and ex-Chinnor player Andy Darlington, signed on loan from Caldy to make his debut, and to potentially play against his brother Mark, who was on the Chinnor bench
The temperature at the 15.00 kick-off was 12 degrees on a dry day but the Chinnor breeze was in attendance, blowing down the ground from the ring-road end.
Sedgley Park were in all burgundy with yellow hoops, with Chinnor in their usual black and white.
Match Report
Sedgley kicked off into the wind and won an early penalty near the half-way line after wing Riley went on a jinking run down the touchline, but the kick into the wind only went mid-way into the Chinnor half. Sedgley secured their line-out ball but centre Nathan Pope slipped in possession, enabling Chinnor to win a turnover and a penalty.
After winning their line-out, flanker Wharton made a strong break and although his off-load was juggled by Feeney, the full-back held on to dive over for the opening try. Bourton’s conversion from out wide hit a post and then over to make in 7-0 after 4 minutes.
Sedgley then won a penalty in the midfield of the field around 30 metres from the Chinnor line, and Seals stepped up to predictably slot through the posts to get the Tigers on the scoreboard. 7-3 after 8 minutes.
A high tackle on Sedgley flanker Tom Ailes saw another penalty on the Sedge 10 metre line, but the kick failed to find touch. Chinnor kicked back into the Sedgley half, but the kick with the wind was too strong and went dead for a scrum to the visitors just outside the Chinnor 22.
A nice mis-move from the scrum saw Tigers wing Rhys Henderson come off his wing to receive a pass from Seals and saunter under the posts to give Sedgley their first try. Seals’ easy conversion took the score to 7-10 with 13 minutes played.
Chinnor looked to immediately strike back but with a knock-on advantage they were guilty of handling in the ruck, an offence spotted by the Sedge water-carrier who was immediately in the ear of the touch-judge, who alerted the referee to the offence.
Tigers then threw their line-out too long and Chinnor gathered possession. A poor pass forced Passman to improvise and volley forward, but Sedgley regrouped and secured the ball to win a penalty.
Sedgley aimlessly kicked away possession for Goss to catch, kick back and then win a penalty as Sedgley failed to release. Chinnor kicked to the corner, but failed to win their line-out. Sedgley kicked to clear their lines, but Goss again ran back, beating 4 would be tacklers, and just when it looked like Chinnor would score, the referee blew for crossing.
However, the reprieve for Sedgley didn’t last for long. Max Clementson made a good break and Chinnor drove several times at the try line. The Tigers’ defence was good, forcing Chinnor to spread wide, and good hands between Worboys, Smith, Goss and back to Smith enabled the fly half to cross the whitewash and run around under the posts. Worboys slotted the routine conversion. 14-10 after 23 minutes.
Chinnor were now on top, and a superb penalty from inside their own half took the home side to 5 metres from the Sedgley line. Brockschmidt won the line-out and when Chinnor pressed for the line the lock was held up over the line for a drop-out to the Tigers from behind their try line.
Chinnor gathered the kick and a good move saw Goss tackled just short of the line. Chinnor reworked possession and Bourton attacked the line but knocked on in the tackle to give Sedgley a scrum 5 metres from their line.
Despite a good shove from the Chinnor pack, number 8 George Bordill was able to pick up and drive but Tigers again kicked away possession, and then committed a high tackle on Feeney. Unfortunately for the home side the kick to the corner was too long, to give Sedgley a 22 metre drop out.
Sedgley scrum-half Jacob Tansey then strayed off-side. Bourton quickly took the penalty and charged for the try-line. Good defensive work stopped him and then a follow-up by prop Hardwick, but the pressure told and Feeney was able to stride over and under the posts for his second try of the game. Worboys added the extras to take the score to 21-10 after 33 minutes.
Bourton then looked to have broken through again for Chinnor but a great tackle by Tigers full-back Charlie Wardle not only prevented the score but also won turnover possession for his side. Sedgley kicked ahead for Riley to make a great catch, and after a drive from prop Downham, the ball was fed through several hands for Henderson go over out wide for his second try. Seals added an excellent conversion so it was now 21-17 after 38 minutes.
Sedgley flanker Ailes did well at the restart, stopping the ball with his foot and then picking up to run to close to the half-way line. Sedgley looked to attack again but lost possession, and after Chinnor scrum-half Carter went on a snipping run, Chinnor had a penalty advantage for not rolling away. Chinnor appealed for a deliberate knock-on when the ball appeared to hit the body of a leaping Sedgley defender, and then an ambitious long pass went straight into touch.
With play being taken back for the original penalty, Chinnor kicked to be back 5 metres out. Brockschmidt again won line-out ball but several drives were stopped by the impressive Tigers defence. Chinnor opted to spread the ball, and an overlap for Goss enabled the winger to dive over in the corner before three would be tacklers could get to him for the try bonus point. Worboys added a fabulous conversion from the touchline to give a half-time scoreline of 28-17 to Chinnor.
Given the strength of the breeze, it was debatable as to whether or not Chinnor’s 11 point lead would be sufficient. Sedgley had defended, well like Tigers, and they had scored on both their two visits to the Chinnor 22. However, they had been guilty of needlessly kicking away too frequently into wind rather than following the Caldy masterclass of sticking it up the jumper. In any case, it would need a big second half if Chinnor were to obtain the victory to take them back to the top of the table.
Chinnor did indeed start the second half well. Feeney went on an elusive run before feeding Ryan, who was halted by a dangerous high tackle. Chinnor kicked into the Sedgley 22 and their rolling maul rumbled forward after winning their line-out. When their progress was halted, the ball was thrown out wide to wing Goss who was stopped short of the try-line.
The referee though had been playing an advantage, which Chinnor kicked to 5 metres. When Chinnor were again forced to release the ball to their backs, Sedge full-back Wardle intercepted and ran to the half-way line. With his bench yelling him to keep the ball, Wardle, being closed down by Goss and Feeney, unwisely decided to kick ahead, and the breeze took the ball over the dead-ball line, for a scrum to Chinnor close to half-way.
Chinnor lost possession and Sedgley kicked into the home 22, and the clearance from Goss barely got out of the 22. Unfortunately for Sedgley, their line-out wasn’t straight and Chinnor won the ball to get back into the Sedgley half.
Chinnor’s attacks continued to be enterprising, with Feeney to the fore, and a deliberate knock-on enabled Chinnor to get back into the Sedge 22. Bourton charged to the try line after Chinnor had won the line-out, but another spillage in the tackle resulted in another Sedgley drop-out from behind their line.
Another blistering Chinnor attack featuring Goss and Feeney was halted by more determined defensive work from the Tigers, but after several more drives, the ball was thrown out wide for wing Gillespie to cross in the corner. With the conversion drifting wide of the far upright, the score was now 33-17 after 53 minutes.
A high tackle gave Sedgley a penalty on the Chinnor 10 metre line, which was kicked to 15 metres out. However, the rolling maul was held up and when the ball was given to Seals, the fly-half was flattened by a crunching tackle from Feeney. Chinnor gained possession but knocked on.
Play then became scrappy, and Chinnor flanker Wharton made an interception leading to a Sedgley knock-on 30 metres from their line. Chinnor’s scrum was good and they won a penalty, but strangely, rather than take the 3 points or kick to the corner, they opted to scrum again. Sadly for Chinnor, the Sedgley scrum did better second time around, and the visitors won a penalty after some more scrappy play.
Sedgley won a line-out 10 metres from the Chinnor line but although the rolling maul was held-up over the line, another penalty had been awarded, so Sedgley’s line-out was now 5 metres out. After another maul Ailes crashed over, and with Seals off the pitch, Wardle was now on kicking duties, and excellently delivered from close to the touchline. It was now 33-24 after 63 minutes.
Almost immediately after, Chinnor were pinged for not releasing on half-way, and Sedgley were back with a 5 metre line-out. With Chinnor not competing for the line-out, Sedgley took possession and although the rolling maul looked to be heading out of play, prolific hooker Danny Maher changed direction and crossed virtually unopposed for his side’s try bonus point. With an easier conversion than last time, Wardle’s effort was surprisingly poor and sailed well wide. With 65 minutes on the clock, Chinnor now held a narrow 33-29 lead.
With the Sedgley bench now excitedly urging their side on, the referee informed them to ignore the scoreboard clock, which was apparently 4 minutes slow, and there was in fact only 11 minutes of play remaining, not 15.
Chinnor though stirred themselves to win a penalty on the Sedgley 10 metre line. After a series of drives, flanker Wharton found a gap in the Sedge defences to cross from close range. Although Worboys missed with the conversion, Chinnor again had some breathing space at 38-29 after 71 minutes.
Sedgley were not out of the contest yet though, and lock Birtwell again won a line-out in the Chinnor 22 but Chinnor’s defence was strong and turnover ball was obtained. Feeney kicked into the Sedgley half but was pinged for not allowing the Tigers defender to get to his feet.
Chinnor were then again penalised by the referee, enabling Sedgley to again have a line-out 5 metres from the Chinnor line. The rolling maul was held up but again the home side incurred the wrath of the referee for another 5 metre line-out, where again Chinnor were adjudged to have infringed to stop Sedgley from scoring, and lock Oli Curry was shown a yellow card.
With a man advantage, Tigers launched wave after wave of attacks at the Chinnor line, and the pressure eventually told with Darlington being credited with the try. The referee then advised Sedgley that if they took the conversion there would not be time for a restart, so Park sensibly declined not to go for the extras, and hurriedly returned to their starting positions. It was now 38-34 with 80 minutes played.
Sedgley regained possession from the restart and tried to play from deep inside their own half. They gradually got to the half-way line as Chinnor desperately defended, then perhaps unwisely number 8 Bordill attempted a delicate chip ahead over the advancing Chinnor back-line. However, the ball fell into the arms of Chinnor fly-half Nick Smith, who gleefully hammered the ball into touch to end the game.
At the final whistle after another breath-taking National League One encounter, Chinnor had narrowly secured the victory to take them back to the top of the table, 4 points ahead of Rams. However, they might be a little concerned by the number of penalties the referee awarded against them today, so they may need to consider their discipline. That said, Sedgley put the Chinnor side under a lot of pressure in the second half and came close to snatching a win. With their two bonus points from the match, Sedgley remained in 6th place, but now only 4 points adrift of third placed Plymouth Albion.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment