April 18, 2026
Two weeks ago, these diaries reported on Chinnor’s routine 42-12 victory over wooden spoonists Cambridge which was a third victory in a row, but last week Chinnor received a stiff wake-up call as they crashed 21-57 at Cornish Pirates. Despite having an edge up front, Chinnor had little answer to some scintillating back play from Pirates who looked like scoring every time they spread the ball wide.
Chinnor remained in 5th after the defeat, and today entertained 3rd placed Worcester Warriors, who also came into today’s game on the back of a bad defeat, having been soundly beaten last Saturday, a 14-28 home defeat at the hands of Bedford Blues.
Worcester not only had the incentive to bounce back from that loss, but also to gain revenge for Chinnor being the first side to win at Sixways this season, going down 26-27 in this season’s Christmas fixture.
However, the build-up to today’s game had been overshadowed by the sad news that Chinnor Chief Executive Simon Vickers had passed away during the week. Simon had been extremely influential in Chinnor’s progress over the past 40 years or so from parks rugby to the second tier in English Rugby, and without his vision and hand on the tiller, it was unclear exactly what impact his passing would be on the rugby club.
Worcester History
The original club were formed in 1871 and first reached the Premiership for the 2004/05 season. They suffered two relegations, but on both occasions, they immediately bounced back by winning the Championship, in 2010/11 and 2014/15. Whilst they typically struggled in the Premiership, they did win the British and Irish Cup in 2014/15 and the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2021/22.
In August 2022, Worcester were served a winding up order by HMRC over unpaid taxes, and although three matches were played, the club were unable to provide long-term guarantees and were expelled from the Premiership, and the Warriors entered administration
A phoenix club was created and entered the Championship for this season, still playing at the 9,500 capacity all-seater Sixways stadium.
Worcester This Season
A lot had been written over the RFU’s decision to parachute the newly reformed Worcester Warriors into the Champ, when every other club that had previously gone bankrupt had to restart in the regional leagues eg Richmond, London Scottish, London Welsh, Jersey et al.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the decision, there was no point continuing to debate it, and after all, the Worcester fans were blameless in this situation, and would be welcomed in the large numbers they were expected to, visit Champ grounds this season.
That said, whoever was in charge of Worcester’s social media accounts pre-season did little to garner sympathy from the neutrals for the Warriors and their plight, failing to get the balance right between enthusiasm for rugby returning to the city, with respect for the League they would be playing in. The endless bragging about all the new signings the phoenix club had made, how it would basically between them and Ealing to win the league, with everyone else basically being belittled consequently led to some of the supporters of other Champ clubs taking a little bit of pleasure when the reality hit home, and some of the other sides in the Champ showed they could also play a bit !
Worcester came into today’s game with a 15-0-8 record, but were a moderate 6-0-5 away from Sixways, having only beaten one side currently in the top 8 ( Cornish Pirates ), although they still had to visit Chinnor and Coventry.
Worcester started the season well, winning 8 of their opening 10 matches, but did lose their first two away games, going down 25-28 at Hartpury and 31-34 at Doncaster. However, as the winter started to take its toll, Warriors lost four on the trot, being beaten 19-35 at Bedford Blues, losing their unbeaten home record to Chinnor ( 26-27 ), narrowly falling at Ealing Trailfinders ( 33-34 ), and then losing at home again to Hartpury ( 28-34 ).
Since then, Worcester had won 7 out of their last 9 fixtures, with the blemishes being a 7-22 reverse at Nottingham, and last time out, another home defeat, this time with Bedford doing the double with a comfortable 28-14 victory.
Reading reports on the games the Warriors had lost this season, it appeared that they had been outplayed in the scrums and line-outs, and it was their talented backs that had been winning games for them. Certainly, the loss to Chinnor seemed to be a case in point, with the Chinnor pack apparently in total control in the second half, and once their noses were in front, Worcester rarely looked like regaining the lead in the final 30 minutes. The over enthusiastic reaction of the Chinnor players after the part-timers had beaten full-time Warriors on their own patch apparently didn’t go down too well with a small section of Warriors supporters !
Unsurprisingly, Worcester’s average home attendances this season of 7,325 were well in excess of the second-best supported team in the division, Bedford’s average of 3,011, and in some ways represented a vindication of the RFU’s decision to allow them into the Champ. The highest attendance was the 9,500 sell-out for the game against Chinnor.
Worcester Squad
Having to start from scratch, Worcester signed a mixture of former players coming home, top level veteran players coming to the end of their career, plus some promising youngsters looking to progress.
Ex-Dragons fly-half/full-back Will Reed was the leading points scoring with 177 points which included 10 tries, whilst former Bedford Blue and Northampton winger Jake Garside had scored 12 tries
Marquee signings included former England international and Gloucester, Leicester and Bedford centre Billy Twelvetrees ( 22 caps ) who is often referred to by a nickname of 36 ( think about it ! ), ex-Gloucester, Exeter, Zebre and Coventry back-row forward Matt Kvesic ( 4 caps ) who was back for a second spell with the Warriors, and ex-Cardiff and Ealing Trailfinders Welsh scrum-half Lloyd Williams ( 32 caps ).
Other notable signings included ex-Wasps, Bedford, Harlequins and Leicester winger Josh Bassett, ex-Jersey, London Irish and Leicester back-row forward Matt Rogerson, prop Fraser Balmain was ex-Leicester, Gloucester and Saracens, whilst fly-half Tiff Eden had previously played for Saracens, Zebre, Bristol and Nottingham after having started at Worcester.
Other internationals signed included Fijian prop Livai Natave ( 2 caps ), and prop Tim Hoyt also had two caps for Fiji and was rumoured to be joining Lyon next season, after having started at Leicester and played six times on loan for Chinnor for last season. Winger Juan Gonzalez had 10 caps for Uruguay.
Foreign players signing for Worcester included ex-Bristol and Hull Rugby League Fijian winger Ratu Naulago, ex-Leicester South African prop Cameron Miell, ex-Griquas South African lock Thabo Ndimande, Australian forward Tim Anstee had played for Western Force back home, whilst Australian lock Hugh Bokenham had recently signed on loan from Gloucester.
Full-back Will Trewin had signed from Cornish Pirates, centre Rory Taylor had previously played for London Irish, Gloucester and Hartpury, lock Obinna Nkwocha had played for Saracens and Coventry, lock Hallam Chapman was ex-Jersey Reds, Plymouth Albion and London Irish, and hooker Archie Vanes was previously with Leicester, Nottingham and Cambridge.
Prop Austin Wallis had featured in theses diaries last season with London Scottish, as did ex-Harlequins winger Roma Zhang.
Back-row forward/lock James Tyas had made 44 appearances for Chinnor, having initial joined after leaving Worcester in 2014, and then rejoining from London Scottish in 2019. Tyas had subsequently played for London Scottish ( again ), Wasps and Coventry, before returning to Warriors.
Matchday Information
According to AA route planner, the journey from Worcester to Thame is 84 miles and should normally take around an hour and fifty minutes down the M5 and A40. It looked like a few hundred Warrior supporters had made the journey.
Adult tickets purchased online were £16 and £20 at the gate and the £5 charge to sit in the stand appeared to have been re-introduced for today. An online programme had been prepared in advance of today’s game.
The usual food vendors for burgers, pizzas, crepes and coffee were in place, and a pint of Poretti from the mobile van was £6.25.
Worcester announced six changes to their starting XV that lost to Bedford with ex-Bedford Blues brothers Alfie and Jake Garside in the three-quarters, ex-Coventry scrum-half Will Lane and Twelvetrees as the half-backs, Tyas at lock and ex-Exeter and Cornish Pirate Billy Keast at prop. Eden and Miell dropped to the bench whilst Naulago, James Short, Williams and Nkwocha missed out. However, the Warriors were forced into a late change shortly before kick-off with Bassett having to drop out and Zheng came into the side and Short took a place on the bench.
Chinnor made five changes to their side that was hammered in Penzance with Tom Watson, Callum Pascoe and Joe Brock coming into the backs and Alun Walker and Kabou Bezuidenhout in the front row. Luke Carter, Sam Hanks, Chris Moore and Rob Hardwick were amongst the substitutes, and Freddie Owsley was missing from the squad.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was cloudy with patches of blue sky with a temperature of 15 degrees. The infamous Chinnor breeze was present.
Worcester were playing in a kit of lilac shirts and shorts, with the socks being a darker shade of purple. Chinnor were in their usual black and white hoops with black shorts and socks.
Match Report
A minute applause was held prior to kick-off in memory of Simon Vickers, following which Worcester kicked-off with the breeze towards the Showground End. In what was to become a pattern for most of the match, Chinnor scrum-half Callum Pascoe launched a box kick, which Worcester gathered after it had bounced and attacked. Centre Taylor was tackled 15 metres short of the try-line but when the Warriors attacked again, they were pinged at a ruck. It was nearly a repeat of the first meeting between the two sides when Worcester scored in the opening 10 seconds.
Chinnor kicked their penalty to their 10 metre line, lock Jamie Campbell won their line-out and Pascoe again kicked high, but Trewin took the catch and replied with a high kick of his own which was claimed by Taylor, who made another break, but after being tackled, a loose pass went to ground and the kick ahead went dead for a scrum to Chinnor on the Worcester 10 metre line.
The first scrum of the match was steady and Chinnor launched several attacks without making much progress, forcing Pascoe to kick high again, and Chinnor were awarded a penalty after the ball had bounced. Fly-half Nathan Chamberlain kicked Chinnor to 5 metres, and after Campbell won the line-out, Chinnor’s rolling maul was unstoppable, and hooker Walker was credited with the try. Chamberlain’s attempted conversion slid wide, so it was 5-0 after 9 minutes.
Chinnor dropped the restart but a knock-on from the Warriors gave the scrum to Chinnor, which was messy and another scrum to Chinnor followed, from which they won a scrum penalty to take play up to the Worcester 10 metre line.
Campbell again ruled at the line-out for Chinnor and flanker Will Cave took possession and charged down the blindside and kicked into the Worcester 22. However, the Warriors set-off on a counter-attack but Zheng was stopped by a good tackle by Grant Hughes, and when Warriors kicked ahead, the ball bounced infield rather than into touch, and Chinnor won a penalty at the ensuing ruck.
For variety, Conor Brockschmidt won the Chinnor line-out and Pascoe sent the ball into orbit again, but Zheng took a good catch under the high ball, and although Chinnor won turnover ball, they were penalised at the subsequent ruck, allowing Worcester to clear their lines and take play up to the Chinnor 10 metre line.
Worcester tried to spread the ball after winning their line-out but the ball was dropped in midfield after a crunching tackle, with Chinnor gaining possession, and being awarded the put-in at the resulting scrum. Number 8 Izzy Wharton picked up at the base of the scrum and Worcester were caught offside, and Chinnor kicked the penalty to the Warriors 22 metre line.
Campbell won the line-out and Pascoe played a short, delayed pass for centre James Bourton to make a break through a gap in the Worcester defence, and cross the whitewash. Chamberlain added an excellent conversion from out wide and into the breeze so the score moved to 12-0 with 21 minutes played.
Worcester prop Keats was shown a yellow card after the try had been scored, although I didn’t see what the offence was.
Shortly after the restart, Kvesic made a strong run through the heart of the Chinnor defence but the attempted pass to Jake Garside was just too high, and the ball went into touch.
Play resume with a scrum to Chinnor on the half-way line, and Pascoe kicked high. Jake Garside made the catch, and scrum-half Lane sent a return kick into the Chinnor half. Some kick tennis followed, until Worcester tried to attack but spilt the ball. Brock picked up the loose ball and set-off on a blistering run, drawing the last covering defender to give Hughes a clear run for the line for a super try. Chamberlain added another good conversion, extending Chinnor’s lead to 19-0 with 27 minutes played.
Pascoe sent the restart deep back into the Worcester half, where Twelvetrees kicked back into the Chinnor 22. Hughes called for the mark, and cleared to the Chinnor 10 metre line.
Worcester threw their line-out long for Kvesic to run onto. Worcester had several attacks which were defended until Twelvetrees played a grubber kick behind the Chinnor back-line and Jake Garside was able to run all alone on to the ball and touch down in the corner. The conversion from Twelvetrees struck the post and went wide meaning the score was 19-5 after 31 minutes.
Worcester kicked the restart off for a line-out on half-way, and Harry Dugmore won the Chinnor line-out. The home side were awarded a penalty at a ruck, taking play to the Worcester 22. Campbell won the line-out for Chinnor but the rolling maul was stopped. Chinnor launched several drives for the line, but the Warriors defence was good, and Chinnor infringed in their desperation to force a score.
Tyas won the Worcester line-out on half-way and Lane opted for the box kick which Keiran Goss dropped backwards. Worcester gathered possession and moved to left then right then back to the left again without making any breakthrough, and Chinnor won turnover ball. Pascoe kicked high and the ball bounced off a Worcester body back to Pascoe, who then kicked the ball off the field to end the half, with Chinnor deservedly leading 19-5 despite having played into the breeze.
Chinnor were on the front foot at the start of the second period, but Campbell’s attempted charge down of Lane’s clearing kick fell into the hands of Twelvetrees, but Worcester were penalised at a ruck. Interestingly, Chinnor opted to take the points rather than go for the corner, and from a central position just outside the Warriors 22, Chamberlain slotted his kick through the uprights, to extend Chinnor’s lead to 22-5 after 42 minutes.
Chinnor continued to test Worcester’s defensive abilities under the high ball, and after another aerial bomb from Pascoe, Worcester attempted to move the ball, but lock Chapman was smashed by a formidable tackle by Chinnor centre Tom Watson and Chinnor had a scrum on the Worcester 10 metre line after the knock-on in the tackle.
It looked like the referee had given a penalty advantage to Chinnor from the scrum, but when they attempted to move the ball to their right they knocked on, and the scrum was awarded to Worcester. The Warriors won a free-kick at the scrum and took a quick tap and ran, but as the Chinnor defence was good, Lane opted for a box kick which Goss caught. When Pascoe returned the kick with interest, the ball was dropped to give Chinnor the scrum just inside the Chinnor half.
The Worcester pack gave a good shove but Chinnor picked up from the scrum and Chamberlain delivered what looked to be a 50:20 kick, the ball bouncing into touch inside the Worcester 22, but the Warriors were given the throw at the line-out.
Worcester threw quickly to the front of the line-out but Lane mis-kicked, sending the ball directly into touch for a line-out midway inside the Worcester half. Tyas stole the Chinnor line-out and Lane kicked high again. Chinnor knocked the ball backwards but gathered possession, enabling Pascoe to box kick again. Twelvetrees took the catch and was immediately flattened by a Chinnor chaser. Warriors recycled possession and another bout of kick tennis followed until Chinnor knocked on mid-way inside the Worcester half-way following an aerial challenge.
Worcester tried to run from the scrum, but Pascoe made an interception and scuttled unopposed under the posts. Chamberlain knocked over the easy conversion, so Chinnor now led 29-5 with 55 minutes on the clock.
It looked to be game over, but the Warriors had other ideas, and Zheng made a sharp break, and good hands amongst the backs saw Jake Garside tackled a few metres from the corner flag. However, the referee had been playing a penalty advantage, and Worcester kicked for a 5-metre line-out. Worcester won their ball and the rolling maul powered over, and hooker Vanes was credited with the try. Twelvetrees was successful from the tee, and the score became 29-12 with 58 minutes played.
Play was scrappy following the restart. Tyas dropped the kick backwards, Lane box kicked, and after Goss took the catch it was all a bit of a mess until Walker made a break through the middle of the Worcester defence, then Chamberlain’s kick ahead was far too strong and went dead for a Worcester scrum midway inside their half, from which they won a penalty.
Worcester won their line-out and a nice move from the set-piece saw Trewin make the break and the ball went through several pair of hands before Kvesic scored. Twelvetrees missed with the conversion so it was 29-17 after 63 minutes.
The two quick scores for Worcester had made a few of the Chinnor supporters around me starting to get nervous as the visitors continued to press.
After Twelvetrees fumbled backwards a high kick from Pascoe, Worcester responded in kind and although Dugmore made a good catch for Chinnor, the home side were pinged at the ensuing ruck. However, Twelvetrees failed to find touch when aiming for the corner and Chinnor kicked for a lineout near half-way.
Substitute Bokenham won the line-out for Worcester and the Warriors attacked, but the Chinnor defence was good until they were caught offside. Worcester kicked into the Chinnor 22 and Tyas won their line-out but the ball was dropped in midfield as they tried to move wide, although the scrum was awarded to the visitors.
Again, Worcester tried to run the ball and the ball was spilled in the tackle in midfield, and again the scrum was given to the Warriors just inside the Chinnor 22.
The Worcester pack won a penalty at the scrum, which was kicked to 5 metres, where again Tyas made the catch. However, the rolling maul was stopped and a long, floated pass was too high for Zheng to take and the ball flew into touch. The referee though had again been playing a penalty advantage, and the Warriors were camped again on the Chinnor 5 metre line.
The rolling maul initially rumbled forward before being stopped, and although it looked like the referee had given a penalty to Chinnor, the decision was actually a 5 metre scrum for Chinnor, presumably there had been a knock-on.
The Worcester pack produced a good shove, but the referee determined the scrum needed to be reset, and this time, the Warriors forwards were too eager and conceded a free-kick.
Chinnor kicked to their 22, and although Worcester again won their line-out ball, the Chinnor defence was good and forced a penalty. Chamberlain chose to play safe rather than trying for anything ambitious and was content to nudge play up to the half-way line.
Campbell won the Chinnor line-out, their pack made some yards with the driving maul before Pascoe went aerial again, and after Chinnor recovered possession, Worcester infringed. The decision was again to take the points, and Chamberlain slotted a penalty similar to his earlier one, to extend Chinnor’s lead to 32-17 with 78 minutes on the clock.
Worcester still had a four try bonus point to play for in the final minutes, and although it looked like there had been a knock-on, the referee was happy for play to continue, and after a kick ahead, Trewin was the quickest to the ball to dot down for the Warriors’ fourth try of the game. I didn’t see the conversion attempt, which should have been straightforward, but Twelvetrees must have missed from the tee, as the score at the restart was 32-22 after 79 minutes.
Worcester won a penalty at the restart, which they kicked to their 10-metre line, and when they tried to run, the ball was dropped and Chinnor fly-hacked towards the Worcester posts but the ball went dead, and the referee blew for full-time.
Ultimately it was a deserved victory for Chinnor, who recorded a double over the Warriors. Frankly, Worcester were disappointing, and only really started to play in the final 25 minutes when the game had virtually gone.
There was too much box kicking for Fatbear’s liking, but Chinnor executed this much more effectively than Worcester. Perhaps Worcester were too polite and didn’t want to spoil the Chinnor memorial for Simon Vickers……..
Chinnor’s victory kept them in 5th place needing three points to secure a place in the play-offs with two matches remaining. With one of the games against a Richmond side preparing for their relegation play-off, they should achieve this regardless of the outcome of their game at Bedford Blues.
Worcester slipped to 4th in the table and with games against Ealing and Coventry still to come, they need a miracle to achieve a top two finish, but only need one more point for a home tie in the play-off quarter-finals, and could meet Chinnor again. They still only had one away win against a top 8 side….
The attendance of 2,588 was a record for a Chinnor home game, beating the 2,437 for a Friday night game against Rams in December 2024, but shy of the 3,000 that turned up for the England Under 18s vs France Under 18s in March.
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