April 3, 2026
After these diaries covered Chinnor’s 48-36 victory over Caldy two weeks ago, they followed that up with a hard fought 26-19 win at Nottingham in poor conditions, although on the balance of play Chinnor probably should have won by a greater margin. However, the win took Chinnor up to 5th in the Champ table, and today they entertained winless Cambridge, looking for a 5-point victory to further consolidate their position in the play-offs.
In the meantime, Chinnor had announced plans to achieve planning permission for the installation of a 5,000 capacity stand in readiness for the 2027/28 season.
Previous Meetings
With the exclusion of both Cambridge and Chinnor from last season’s Premiership Cup, the two sides agreed to play their own Cup competition, the Not The Prem Cup, with Chinnor emerging victorious in both matches, with a 33-24 win at home and a 33-31 success in the return in March to take the Trophy.
Chinnor also did the double over the Blood and Sand in their first season in the Rugby Championship, winning 57-24 on the opening day of the season at Cambridge, and 82-34 at home in the final game of the season.
However, Fatbear witnessed a 19-17 victory for Cambridge in March 2023, on their way to promotion to the Championship.
Prior to that, matches between these two sides at Kingsey Road had historically been extremely close. In the 5 previous encounters, Chinnor had won three and lost twice, with four of the games being decided by 4 points or fewer, with Chinnor’s 34-22 win in November 2019 being the outlier. These diaries also covered a 32-30 victory for Cambridge in November 2021, although a late converted try made the score look closer than it should have been.
Cambridge This Season
Cambridge finished bottom of the Championship last season with just three victories, and the club had a massive clear out of their squad, with over 20 players leaving, including Sam Hanks who was now with Chinnor.
However, the wholesale changes had led to even worse results, as Cambridge came to Kingsey Road today already relegated, with an 0-1-20 record. The only time they had avoided defeat was a 12-12 home draw with Doncaster Knights, and they had only achieved 4 losing bonus points, going down 32-36 and 17-21 to Nottingham, 28-29 at Bedford Blues, and 24-26 at home to Caldy. Six four try bonus points had also been registered.
Cambridge’s average home attendance so far this season was 1,206, with 1,438 seeing the Christmas fixture with Coventry. Last season their average was 1,364.
Cambridge Squad
Ex-Nottingham fly-half Jamie Annand was the leading points scorer with 39 points whilst ex-Loughborough University and former England Under 20 back-row forward Dan Eckersley had scored 5 tries.
Amongst their many new recruits were New Zealand centre Levi Reweti, hooker Dylan Irvine from Cornish Pirates, ex-Bristol and Ampthill Welsh back-row forward Arthur Thomas, ex-Ealing Trailfinders South African full-back Ben Currie, and Samoan prop Paul Masoe.
Centre Jasper Sorrell had played in the Championship for Ealing and Ampthill, hooker Jack Doorey-Palmer was ex-Harlequins and was one of their many loanees to London Scottish last season.
Irish lock Jacob McCay joined having played in Spain last year and prop Billy Walker joined from Nottingham, having previously played for Saracens, Ampthill, Bedford, Old Albanians and Bishop’s Stortford. Centre Epi Rokodrava joined from Ealing Trailfinders, having appeared 11 times for Chinnor on loan last season but was missing today.
Matchday Information
According to AA route planner, the journey from Cambridge to Thame is 79 miles and should normally take around an hour and fifty minutes.
Adult tickets purchased online were £16 and £20 at the gate and the £5 charge to sit in the stand appeared to have been waived for today. An online programme had been prepared in advance of today’s game.
There were dark clouds overhead at the unusual 17.00 kick-off time but the forecasted light rain fortunately stayed away during the game. There was a strong breeze, with gusts of up to 20 mph expected and the temperature was a chilly 11 degrees.
Cambridge announced five changes to their starting XV that lost to Bedford. Jake Ellwood, who made 9 appearances for Chinnor on loan from Ealing Trailfinders in 2018/19 was back at prop, Gareth Baker and Northampton loanee Jack Lawrence were the locks, South African Rhys Fulford came into the back row, and Ethan Thorne was on the wing, replacing Ksenia Izu who was on England Under 19 duty. Four of their squad today played at Chinnor last season, captain Ben Adams, winger Elias Cavan, Ellwood and Baker.
Chinnor made nine changes to their side that won at Nottingham, with only back-row forwards Scott Hall and Will Cave, lock Jamie Campbell, fly-half Nathan Chamberlain, centre Tom Watson and wing Grant Hughes retaining their places.
Cambridge were in a change kit of blue shirts with black shirts and socks, whilst Chinnor were in their usual black and white hoops with black shorts and socks.
Match Report
Chinnor kicked off into the strong wind and in what was to become the pattern for the first-half, Cambridge would launch a high kick only for Chinnor to return in a similar manner. Most of the time Chinnor looked secure under the aerial bombardment whereas Cambridge often struggled to deal with the kicks in their direction.
At the kick-off Cambridge scrum-half Ollie Allen’s return kick was well caught by Chinnor full-back Joe Brock who made yards down the touchline, but after a ruck was formed when Brock was tackled, Chinnor scrum-half Callum Pascoe’s box kick was caught by Allen, and the return kick was claimed by Scott Hall. However, Chinnor were judged to be offside when Pascoe kicked again, and Annand kicked the visitors to within 15 metres of the Chinnor line.
The Cambridge throw went too long, and Chinnor hooker Alun Walker caught the ball and fed Pascoe, who made a half-break but was illegally halted. Chamberlain’s kick was taken in the wind and barely crossed the half-way line. Jamie Campbell won the line-out for Chinnor but when they went down the blind-side, Freddie Owsley was tackled into touch after gaining 15 metres.
Cambridge threw low to the front of the line-out for Rhys Fulford to catch, but a period of kick tennis followed, until Owsley again made yards down the touchline and passed to Pascoe, who entered the Cambridge 22, but the visitors won turnover ball only to kick poorly back to Owsley who made another strong run. Centre James Bourton made a further break only to be tackled just short of the tryline, but Will Cave was in support, caught the offload, and dived over under the post. Chamberlain added the extras to take the score to 7-0 with 7 minutes played.
The restart was caught in the wind and sailed dead to give Chinnor a scrum on the half-way line. Chinnor moved the ball wide from the scrum but Brock knocked on and Cambridge kicked high again, and this time gathered the loose bouncing ball, but kicked again, only for Chinnor to gather and clear to mid-way inside their half.
For the second time in the match, Cambridge threw too long and Walker caught for Chinnor, who moved the ball wide to the left for Owsley to again cross the gain line and feed Brock, who was tackled. Cambridge won possession and kicked again, only for the ball to go into the in-goal zone where Chinnor winger Grant Hughes touched down for a goal-line drop-out.
Cambridge won a penalty at a ruck, which was kicked to 8 metres from the Chinnor try-line. Although Campbell stole the Cambridge throw, Chinnor knocked on to give Cambridge a scrum 5 metres from the try-line. Allan’s pass from the scrum was taken by centre Sorrell in what appeared to be a planned move, who forced his way over the line. Annand was successful from the tee to level the scores at 7-7 after 17 minutes.
Cambridge kicked back the restart to Owsley, who set off on a mazy run across the pitch without making much progress, and the Chinnor pack transgressed at a ruck close to half-way. However, the kicking from Cambridge again lacked accuracy and went dead, to give Chinnor a scrum near the half-way line.
Chinnor attempted to move along the backs but Brock’s attempted off-load in the tackle went into touch for line-out for Cambridge on their 10-metre line. The ball was knocked forward by Cambridge at their throw and Pascoe took the catch. Chinnor spread the ball with Owsley getting into the visitors’ 22 before being tackled into touch.
Cambridge won their line-out and after a bit of a fumble, the clearing kick touched a Chinnor hand attempting the charge-down and went off for a Cambridge line close to half-way. Allan kicked again from the line-out and Owsley called for the mark, and kicked to touch on the Chinnor 10 metre line.
The Cambridge throw went to the front of the line-out but the referee saw something he didn’t like and awarded a free-kick to Chinnor. The kick was sent into the heavens and swirled in the wind and Cambridge failed to deal with it. Cave gathered and charged through a gap but a tap tackle stopped the try. However, Cave was able to get to his feet and dived over the line close to the posts for his second try, and Chamberlain added the straight forward conversion. The score was now 14-7 after 26 minutes.
Cambridge had a scrum after a Chinnor hand pushed a line-out throw forward, from which Sorrell did excellently to catch a poor pass from Allen, and Chinnor were drawn into conceding another penalty, which Annand kicked to 5 metres. Baker claimed the line-out but the rolling maul was stopped short of the tryline. However, hooker Doorey-Palmer was able to burrow his way over the whitewash. Annand had to replace the ball back on to the tee after it was blown away in the wind, but he could only kick well wide. It was now 14-12 with 32 minutes played.
Chinnor’s restart drifted with the wind straight out on the full, and Cambridge kicked from their scrum only for Chamberlain to make an outstanding catch as the ball appeared to be sailing away from him. Chinnor kicked the ball back, and yet again Allen failed to judge the wind correctly with another kick going dead to give Chinnor a scrum on the Cambridge 10 metre line.
The home side were awarded a penalty at the scrum which was kicked to 15 metres. Campbell won the lineout and the rolling maul rumbled towards the line only to be illegally stopped, and Chinnor kicked the penalty to 5 metres. The line-out was messy but Chinnor gathered and made several drives for the line which were repelled until another penalty was yielded.
Chinnor opted to take a tap penalty but were held up over the line to give a goal-line drop out to Cambridge. Hall took the catch and charged back into the Cambridge half but the maul was held up to give Cambridge a scrum, at which they won a penalty to take play to the Chinnor 10 metre line.
Campbell tapped the Cambridge throw back to Walker, who kicked the ball out of play to end the half. Chinnor held a 2 point lead at the interval, and with the elements in the favour would have expected to go on to win the match.
To illustrate the difference in the quality of the two sides’ kicking, shortly after the start of the second period, Pascoe’s kick with the wind stopped just short of the corner flag, forcing Currie to pick up and play, and substitute Joe Green’s attempted return pass went directly in to touch.
Chinnor had a line-out 8 metres from the line and after Hall made the catch, and the Cambridge defence was powerless to stop the rolling maul from marching over the line. Walker emerged with the ball and Chamberlain kicked the conversion. 21-12 after 42 minutes.
Quickly after the restart Chinnor won a penalty at a ruck on their 10-metre line, and an excellent kick took them back to 5 metres from the line. Dan Cooke won the line-out and for the second time in two minutes the Chinnor rolling maul rumbled over the line, and Walker had his second try. Chamberlain’s conversion struck the post and went over the bar. It was now 28-12 after 44 minutes.
Chinnor were now dominating and Walker was bundled into touch just inside the Cambridge 22. Cambridge kicked after winning their line-out and Chinnor were caught off-side after the ball was tapped back. Cambridge took play to the Chinnor 10 metre line but when they tried to move the ball along their backs, Chinnor forced a penalty at a ruck, which Chamberlain superbly kicked to 5 metres.
Willie Ryan won the line-out for Chinnor, but the Cambridge forwards won a turnover, and their backs attempted to move the ball from behind their own line but were forced back. The attempted clearing kick was partially charged down but Eckersley was able to pick up and together with Green, took play up to their 10-metre line and Cambridge were awarded a scrum.
The Cambridge scrum appeared to be in difficulty but replacement scrum-half Ruaridh Dawson was able to pick up and run, but then undid the good work with a dreadfully wild kick straight into touch.
Chinnor had a line-out on the Cambridge 10 metre line and with all the players in the line-out standing still, Walker threw the ball to Campbell ,who passed back to his scrum-half. To the bemusement of the Chinnor players and most of the crowd, the referee awarded a free-kick to Cambridge.
Cambridge took a tap but were halted on half-way, and Chinnor had the put-in at the scrum. However, Cambridge won another scrum penalty and were back inside the Chinnor half. Baker won their line-out ball and the Blood and Sand launched several attacks but the Chinnor defence was good, until a loose Cambridge pass bounced into touch.
Cooke won the line-out for Chinnor just outside their 22 and Pascoe kicked, but Currie made a good catch. Cambridge moved the ball across the field but without any penetration, and Chinnor won turnover ball and kicked again, where this time Tonga international Otumaka Mausia ( 12 caps ) took a good catch. However, Chinnor won a penalty at the ruck, and kicked to about 8 metres.
Hall won the line-out but the ball slipped out of his hands, so it was a scrum to Cambridge for a knock-on. For the second time in the match the Cambridge scrum looked under pressure but Dawson managed to make a clearing kick, but only as far as Owsley, who made a jinking run deep into the Cambridge 22. The ball went loose and Cambridge were deemed to have knocked on to give Chinnor a scrum 10 yards out.
The scrum collapsed and Chinnor were awarded a penalty, for which they decided to scrum again rather than go for the corner. Bourton broke through a couple of tackles but was brought down short of the line. With the Cambridge defence scrambling to prepare for the anticipated forward drives, Pascoe looked up and sent a long pass to Owsley in oceans of space near the touchline, and the Chinnor winger sauntered over the line. Chamberlain added a great conversion from out wide with the wide, taking the score to 35-12 with 67 minutes on the clock.
Cambridge now enjoyed their best spell of the game. Mausia made a good run after a Cambridge scrum but despite a fumble in midfield, Cambridge won the put in at the scrum just outside the Chinnor 22. Cambridge again tried to run, but Mausia was flattened by a robust tackle. Cambridge attempted multiple attacks but the Chinnor defence was good.
From another Cambridge scrum near the Chinnor 22, the visitors went down the blindside but Green was tackled into touch. Baker stole the Chinnor throw, and more waves of attacks were launched, and Chinnor eventually conceded a penalty. Cambridge decided to take a tap 5 metres out but the drive was held up over the line.
Cambridge ran the goal-line drop-out back into the Chinnor half but were pinged at a ruck, and Chinnor kicked into the Cambridge 22. After securing line-out ball Owsley chipped over the flat Cambridge defence but Dawson was first to the ball and touched down in goal to concede a 5-metre scrum for Chinnor.
Chinnor drove for the line and Ryan was stopped short, but substitute prop Ramaz Rukhadze picked up barged over for Chinnor’s 6th try. Chamberlain maintained his 100% record from the tee so Chinnor extended their lead to 42-12 with 79 minutes played.
The final moments of the game were scrappy as Chinnor threw a loose pass in to touch, the Cambridge line-out wasn’t straight, then Chinnor won a scrum penalty. When Chinnor tried to go wide from the scrum, Currie attempted to make an interception but was unable to hold onto to the ball, and the referee blew for the knock-on and to end the game.
With the 5 point victory, Chinnor consolidated their place as 5th in the table.
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