January 23, 2026
Chinnor were on a scarcely believable run of 8 wins out of their last 9 matches, with victories over three of the top four in their last three games. However, today was a different kettle of fish, with the visit of league leaders Ealing Trailfinders, who had won all 13 matches played to-date, and had only once failed to gather the four try bonus point.
A huge Friday Nights’ crowd was anticipated to see if Chinnor would be able to upset the apple cart after their run of wins over 4th placed Cornish Pirates, 3rd placed Worcester Warriors and last week’s victory over 2nd placed Bedford Blues.
It was heady times for the Villagers, but Ealing presented a very different proposition.
Previous Meetings
Chinnor and Ealing Trailfinders first met in National 3 South in 2008/09. Chinnor were beaten 26-46 in Ealing but relegation bound, they caused a major upset in the return, battling to a 20-13 victory. They resumed rivalries last season in the Championship, and in another Friday Nights Fixture back in January, Chinnor pushed table toppers Ealing all the way before falling to a 5-28 defeat in front of a crowd of 2,146. The reverse fixture was played in May, with Champions Ealing recording a convincing 41-5 victory.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2025/01/chinnor-8-28-ealing-trailfinders-att.html
A pre-season friendly was played under the Kingsey Road floodlights in September, when a mostly 2nd string Ealing XV ran out victorious 59-34, although Chinnor took heart by scoring 6 tries. Ealing though re-asserted their authority with a 57-7 home victory on their artificial surface in the second week of the season.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2025/09/chinnor-34-59-ealing-trailfinders-att.html
Ealing Trailfinders This Season
Ealing arrived at Kingsey Road today with a played 13, won 13 record, and had recorded bonus point wins against everyone in the division, apart from at Nottingham, where they had to scrap for a 17-14 victory. Their closest encounter had been in their last outing when Worcester Warriors had run Trailfinders close before succumbing to a 33-34 defeat.
Apart from this, only Hartpury University ( H 27-19 ) and Doncaster Knights ( H 35-21 ) had avoided defeat by less than 20 points.
Ealing’s average home attendance so far this season was 1,668, driven by the 3,086 that had attended the New Year fixture against Worcester Warriors. Last season their average was 1,241.
Ealing Trailfinders Squad
Hooker Matt Cornish and Scott Burkley were the leading try scorer with 10 tries, followed by wings Diego Bailey and Tom Collins on 6, and full-back Tobi Wilson with 5 tries.
Ex-Scarlets fly-half Dan Jones was the top points scorer on 89 points
Matchday Information
The journey from Ealing to Thame is 40 miles and should normally take around 50 minutes down the A40 & M40. Trailfinders know the way by now !
Adult tickets purchased online were £16 and £20 at the gate and an online programme had been prepared in advance of today’s game.
The usual food vendors plus a fish and chips van were in attendance today and a pint of Brooklyn IPA was £5.36 with the members’ discount.
After a lot of rain over the past couple of days, the weather at the 19.45 kick-off was dry and 7 degrees, but with a mild Chinnor breeze it felt quite chilly ! The pitch looked to be in surprisingly good condition.
Ealing announced four changes to their starting XV from the game against Worcester Warriors, all in the backs. Coming in were Tobi Wilson at full-back, Michael Dykes, ex-London Irish and Gloucester, was on the wing, ex-Bristol Bear Sam Edwards was in at scrum-half and Irish International Rory Scannell ( 3 caps ) was in the centre. Full-back Patrick Campbell dropped to the bench whilst Angus Kernohan, Jordan Holgate and Craig Hampson were missing. Due to injury, Hampson would not be involved against the side he is head coach of !
However, Wilson failed an injury test before the kick-off so Holgate returned to the side, and Toby Cousins, who had played 6 matches for Chinnor at the end of 2025, was called up to the bench.
Chinnor also made four changes to the side that beat Bedford, with hooker Chris Moore, prop Robin Hardwick and scrum-half Callum Pascoe promoted from last week’s bench, and Grant Hughes returned on the wing after a spell out injured. Alun Walker, Kai Owen, Luke Carter and James Bourton all dropped to the bench, hoping to make an impact later in the game.
Ealing were in a kit of yellow shirts with black shorts and socks but the numbers on the back of their shirts were hard to distinguish so some players might not get credit for their good play ! Chinnor were in their usual black and white hoops.
Match Report
Ealing kicked off towards the ring-road end. Chinnor launched a high kick which wing Freddie Owsley was able to tap back, enabling Pascoe to kick into the Ealing half, but a good Ealing return kick bounced into touch inside the Chinnor 22.
Ealing won their lineout and spread the ball wide, and winger Francis Moore made ground deep into the Chinnor 22. Several drives were well defended before Ealing forced a penalty. A quick tap was taken but the drives were repelled and eventually the Ealing forwards were held up over the line, giving Chinnor a goal-line drop-out.
Ealing’s strong start continued as they won another penalty after running the drop-out back into the Chinnor half, and they were back inside the Chinnor 22. Another line-out was won but the rolling maul was halted, although Chinnor conceded another penalty, and Ealing had a 5 metre line-out.
Ealing secured their line-out ball but infringed at the rolling maul to give Chinnor a scrum 5 metres from their line. Scott Hall picked up at the base of the scrum, and Owsley made a few yards before illegally being stopped, and from the penalty Chinnor were able to take play to mid-way inside their half.
Chinnor had survived almost 10 minutes of constant Ealing pressure without conceding a point and the tide seemed to be turning as Harry Dugmore claimed the line-out and Chinnor spread the ball through their backs until a high tackle stopped the move, and Chinnor kicked to just outside the Ealing 22.
Hall caught the line-out but then dropped the ball when the move returned to him. Ealing were put under pressure at their scrum from the knock-on, but managed to get the ball away and kicked high, which Chinnor knocked on to give Ealing a scrum on their 10 metre line. This time their scrum was steady, and again the ball was sent into orbit but Owsley was comfortable under the high ball and kicked long. Ealing took the ball back into their 22 and then kicked straight into touch to give Chinnor a line-out on the Ealing 22.
Hall again won the Chinnor line-out but it was scrappy. However, flanker Will Cave made a break, and fed Pascoe, who found full-back Nick Smith to burst down the touchline and dive over the whitewash. Unfortunately for Chinnor, the eagle-eyed touch judge had spotted that Smith’s foot had brushed the touchline so the try was ruled out, so it was still scoreless after 17 minutes.
Ealing won their lineout 15 metres from their line and forced a penalty from which they moved up to their 10 metre line. However, the throw at the line-out when long and Chinnor won possession, and as they pressed, Ealing conceded a penalty, which Chinnor kicked to within 10 metres of the Ealing line
Jamie Campbell won the line-out for Chinnor and the home side made several drives for the line, but eventually the referee awarded Trailfinders a penalty 2 metres from their line, which they kicked to their 10 metre line.
Ealing’s throw again went long, and Chinnor again won possession, and after winning a penalty, Chinnor had a 5 metre line-out. Chinnor’s line-out was again messy but Pascoe cleaned-up, and set Chinnor up to drive for the try-line. However, Campbell was the recipient of a crunching tackle and after several probes at the Ealing defence, Hughes knocked on and Ealing kicked into the Chinnor half. Chinnor ran the ball back at Ealing and forced a penalty, and Holgate was shown a yellow card with 25 minutes on the clock.
Chinnor won their line-out just inside the Ealing 22 but their rolling maul was held up to give the scrum to Ealing, at which they won a free-kick. Ealing kicked deep into the Chinnor half but the home side ran the ball back until Hughes slipped close to the half-way line. Chinnor kept possession and Pascoe kick high, where full-back Dykes made the catch. After some kick tennis, an impressive Ealing kick bounced into touch inside the Chinnor 22.
Campbell won the line-out for Chinnor, Pascoe kicked high and Ealing wing Geordie Gwynn made the catch. Ealing tried to move the ball but an attempted low kick hit a Chinnor defender, forcing Dykes to retreat to his 22 to gather and clear. Owsley again caught and ran back at the Ealing defence and his subsequent kick bounced into touch just outside the Ealing 22.
Chinnor stole the Ealing line-out and when Chinnor moved the ball to their right a long pass from Nathan Chamberlain was nearly intercepted. Ealing won turnover ball but the clearing kick was charged down by Hall. However, the referee spotted an infringement, possibly off-side, and awarded a penalty to Ealing, which was kicked long by Jones to the Chinnor 22.
Ealing won their line-out and pressed, but the ball went forward in the tackle, and Chinnor had possession and kicked back into the Ealing half. Both sides repeatedly kicked the ball back to each other until Dykes caught and call for the mark, and then quickly sent a bouncing kick in to touch just outside the Chinnor 22 with 36 minutes played.
Chinnor won their line-out and Cave made an impressive break and then kicked ahead but the covering Ealing defence was able to touch down in goal for a goal-line drop-out.
Chinnor centre Sam Hanks made a half-break from the drop-kick, and Smith then made a great break deep into the Ealing 22 and passed to Owsley, who was tackled just short of the try-line. Ealing’s desperate defence touched down in-goal to give Chinnor a 5 metre scrum.
Chinnor launched many attacked for the line, with Watson, Hanks, Rukhadze and Hall all being tackled short of the try line. Eventually Chinnor were held up over the line and the referee blew for half-time.
Remarkably it was still 0-0 at half-time, which was a first for Fatbear at a game of Rugby, and must have been the first time for many a year that Ealing had failed to score in a half. After Ealing had impressively dominated for the opening 10 minutes, when it looked like Chinnor would be in for a tough evening, the home side came back to have much the better of the rest of the half, and would have considered themselves unfortunate not to have opened the scoring.
Some more kick tennis ensued at the start of the second half until Chinnor were able to tap back for Moore to catch. A good move in which Hughes made yards was thwarted with Hall being tackled short of the line. Chamberlain’s follow-up run also ended short of the whitewash. A long floated pass looked to have put Owsley in at the corner but the high pass was dropped with the line at his mercy.
The referee though had been playing a penalty advantage, which Chinnor kicked to 5 metres, from which hooker Moore crashed over the line for the opening score. Chamberlain’s attempted conversion drifted wide, but it was now 5-0 with 46 minutes played.
Ealing made 4 substitutions to liven up their play. They won their line-out on Chinnor’s 10 metre line and spread play to the left, where a pass hit an Ealing player on the head, after which Ealing won a penalty, which was moved forward 10 yards after some back-chat from Chinnor, so Ealing now had a line-out on the Chinnor 5 metre line-out.
Ealing won their line-out but the referee awarded a 5 metre scrum to Ealing. Number 8 Josh Taylor made a strong run to the line but was tackled just short, but flanker Kyle Hatherall was able to dive over the line close to the posts, and Jones added the easy conversion. The score was now 5-7 after 51 minutes.
It was now Chinnor’s turn to make 4 changes as they brought on their major impact players but with an injuries to Smith and Chamberlain, centre James Bourton was forced to play at full-back and scrum-half Luke Carter was at fly-half.
Ealing kicked their return of the restart straight out of play to give Chinnor a line-out mid-way inside the Ealing half. A sneaky throw was sent to the front of the line-out and Chinnor burst into the Ealing 22, but the referee saw an infringement and awarded a penalty to Ealing.
The visitors won their line-out but again kicked straight out of play to give Chinnor another line-out. Campbell predictably won the line-out for Chinnor and after pressing for the line, Chinnor won a penalty, which took them to 5 metres. Campbell again won the line-out, and although the rolling maul and a few drives for the line were well defended, a long pass saw Hank cross in the corner. Bourton missed with the conversion attempt, but Chinnor had regained the lead, making it 10-7 with 57 minutes on the clock.
Chinnor were now flying and from a scrum on their 10 metre line, a flowing move saw them progress deep into the Ealing 22. When several drives featuring Hall and Carter were repelled, Carter chipped towards the corner where Hanks was somehow able to touch down with two Ealing defenders in close attendance. Bourton again missed with the touchline conversion but Chinnor now led 15-7 with 62 minutes played.
Unfortunately for Chinnor, Carter looked to have taken a late blow after making the chip for the try, and looked to be concussed as he left the field. Chinnor were now without a fly-half or someone used to regularly kicking from hand for touch or restarts.
Ealing continued to persist with their high kicking game which to-date not been successful, and another period of kick tennis followed. Eventually Owsley was impeded in taking a catch, and substitute back-row forward William Montgomery was shown a yellow card bearing two minutes after entering the fray.
With an 8 point lead and a player advantage, it looked like Chinnor were on course for an unexpected victory.
Hall won a line-out for Chinnor but when Chinnor moved the ball wide the Ealing defence won a penalty.
Ealing attempted a fancy mis-move in midfield that was met with some strong tackling and Chinnor won turnover ball. Pascoe’s grubber kick was touched down in goal by the Ealing defence.
Ealing’s play was getting desperate but Gwynn made a half-break down the touch-line and after kicking ahead, Hughes tackled him off the ball and deservedly was shown a yellow card with 11 minutes remaining.
Both sides were now down to 14 but the momentum was now with Trailfinders, who kicked their penalty into the Chinnor 22, then won another penalty to have a 5 metre line-out. Ealing won their line-out ball and then went down the blind side, and substitute hooker Harry Thompson dived over in the corner. An excellent conversion from Jones out wide took the score to 15-14 after 72 minutes.
Ealing launched another high ball from the restart, and although Owsley made the catch, he was flattened by the following up Ealing attackers and Ealing forced a penalty. The kick for the corner didn’t find touch but bounced awkwardly, and after Owsley tried to fly-hack clear, Ealing regained possession and pressed. However, a knock-on gave Chinnor a scrum deep in their 22 and a fabulous push by their pack gave Chinnor a scrum penalty. All the forwards roared with delight, and it looked to be the decisive moment that should see Chinnor hold on for a famous victory.
Unfortunately for the home side, Bourton failed to find touch with his kick and Ealing immediately attacked from left to right, and after being stopped, moved the ball to the left, from which Cousins burst through a gap and raced under the posts for a dramatic try. Jones added the extras so Ealing now led 21-15 after 79 minutes.
Ealing dropped the restart and Chinnor won the ball. A midfield pass was dropped forcing Chinnor to kick, which Ealing returned with a high kick. Watson made a half-break for Chinnor but a knock-on in the tackle saw Chinnor’s hopes end, and the referee blew for full-time.
There were a mixture of emotions for Chinnor supporters at the end of this pulsating game. Ealing had racked up their 14th consecutive victory from 14 games, but this was only the second time they had failed to obtain the 4 try bonus point.
Chinnor could take heart from running such illustrious opposition so close, and had they been able to find touch two minutes from time they probably won have held on to record a famous victory, despite the injuries to Smith, Chamberlain and Carter leaving them without a front-line kicker from hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment