MATCH REPORT CONTRIBUTED – Saturday, February 16, 2013;
Chinnor 35, Vs Redruth 34. IN a tense and absorbing contest, Chinnor, ahead and in control for most of the match, just did enough to hold off the Redruth pack in the last quarter for a 35-34 victory, despite only having 12 men on the pitch at the end.
First score of the day went to Henry Colver for Chinnor with a penalty goal in the 12th minute. Redruth came back with a vengeance just three minutes later. Reclaiming the restart, Redruth swept the ball wide only to drop it in the act of scoring. Utilising their powerful pack to the full, they then forced a penalty try in the 15th minute. Penberthy converted to give the visitors a 7-3 lead. A penalty try so early in the contest was a portent of things to come.
Just a minute later, Chinnor?s invention, evident throughout the day, brought them dividends when they took a quick lineout. The ball was rapidly worked across the field to Hales who sprinted to the corner for Chinnor?s first try to put them ahead 8-7. Just minutes later, Chinnor were again on the scoresheet. Guilty of holding on the tackle, Redruth conceded a penalty in midfield. From the resultant lineout ball, Stoop ran hard at the opposition and released the perfect pass for Gilbert to power over in the corner for Chinnor?s second try and a 13-7 lead.
Redruth started come back in the match utilising penalty kicks for lineouts to employ their impressive rolling maul. Fortunately the Chinnor pack managed to defend the line on several occasions. On the 31st minute, Chinnor employed the same tactics themselves and were awarded a penalty 20m out from the visitor?s posts after an impressive 20m maul. Colver took the penalty goal opportunity to increase Chinnor?s lead to 16-7.
Two minutes later, Chinnor went further ahead in the match with a try from the again impressive Millett. A raking touch finder from Stoop failed to find touch and was returned down the tram lines from Redruth. Chinnor then whipped the ball through hands to Millet in midfield. His two dummies created sufficient space for him to sprint the line for Chinnor?s third try. Colver’s conversion put the home side ahead 23-7 on the 34th minute.
Redruth were then awarded a penalty in midfield on the 40th minute. Penberthy took the opportunity to reduce the Cornish men’s deficit to 23-10 to close the half.
Chinnor started the second half very brightly. From a Redruth scrum, Chinnor?s Frank Jones tackled his opposite number to dislodge the ball. The Chinnor back row reacted quickly to allow the ball to fly across the backs to Goode in the centre who danced his way to the line for Chinnor?s bonus point try on the 42nd minute. Colver added the extras for a 30-10 lead to the Kingsey Road boys. Redruth came back immediately when their fast rolling maul saw Dan Job touchdown for the visitor?s second try. Penberthy converted to make the match score 30-17.
Chinnor were not dismayed and a sweeping move across the park saw Gilbert touch down in the corner for Chinnor?s fifth try and a match score of 35-17 in the 56th minute.
Then began the Cornish comeback. Redruth open side Hambly chipped the ball into midfield space. Two covering Chinnor players were in position but the ball bounced handily backwards into the arms of the onrushing Hambly who nipped in for Redruth?s third try. Penberthy’s conversion reduced the deficit to 35-24 on the 60th minute. During one of many Redruth attacks, Chinnor?s Millett was yellow carded on the 67th minute and Waddingham joined him shortly afterwards. Redruth continued to press and only heroic defence from the 13 Chinnor men kept them from scoring.
The dam broke in the 77th minute when Williams went over for Redruth?s bonus point try and a match score of 35-29. Shortly after Millett?s return, he was again yellow carded for being offside at a ruck, reducing the Chinnor side to just 12 men. Fortunately Waddingham rejoined the fray shortly afterwards to give Chinnor 13 men again. This did not last long as in the 84th minute, Stoop was yellow carded and the Chinnor headcount was again reduced to just 12 men.
While all this was going on, Redruth continued to pummel the Chinnor line. In the 85th minute of the match Westren went over for Redruth’s fifth try to put the visitors just one point behind at 35-34. Penberthy stepped up for the conversion from the touchline. As the ball sailed wide, the final whistle blew and the Chinnor 12 and the large home crowd began their jigs of relief and delight at the 35-34 victory to the Oxfordshire boys.
This was an absorbing contest. Redruth have an impressive pack who are proficient at scrum and rolling maul. The Chinnor pack were tested thoroughly but showed their defensive qualities particularly in the last quarter when, unable to do anything at all to please the referee Mr Steele-Bodger and reduced to 12 men, they conceded fewer tries than the pressure from Redruth merited.
Ultimately, the game was won by Chinnor in two different ways. The Chinnor backs showed pace and invention to build a large lead into the fourth quarter. The Chinnor forwards showed steely reserve in coping with the enormous pressure from the visitors from Cornwall, particularly in the last quarter. Stoop and Goode were notable in the Chinnor midfield and, because the whole team cannot get a man of the match award, the privilege falls to Alex Waddingham to hold it on behalf of a team that loves to score and knows how to defend.
Scorers:
Chinnor: Hales T; Gilbert 2T; Millett T; Goode T; Colver 2C, 2PG
Redruth: Penalty T; Job T; Hambly T; Williams T; Westren T; Penberthy 3C, PG
Chinnor team:
Colver (Mountford 78), Fielding , Goode, Stoop, Hales (Gray 78), Millett, Jones, Winpenny , Holyland (Whelan 69), Berry (Pickett 45), Mowbray, Smith, Hughes (Sawyer 58), Waddingham, Gilbert
Replacements: Whelan, Pickett, Sawyer, Gray, Mountford