SAM STOOPS LOW TO SAVE THE GAME – Chinnor RFC 8 vs Redingensians 6 – December 19, 2009 – Match report by Bill O’Donnell.
THAT a game took place at all was a triumph for the ground staff and the many volunteers that made a snow laden pitch playable.
The match itself was one of much endeavour without too much score. Chinnor welcomed back Ben Farr on one wing with Sam Stoop taking the other wing berth. Liam Gilbert was preferred at no.8 and Matthew Webster started in the 2 jersey.
The match was reminiscent of the previous week?s match at Reading with Chinnor spending great periods of the match in the opposition half without coming away with scores. Although a low scoring affair, there was plenty of drama but more of that anon.
Cathcart opened the scoring with a penalty goal on the 15th minute to give Chinnor a 3-0 lead. Shortly after, Winpenny for Chinnor was yellow carded for not retiring 10 metres but Redingensians could not reap any rewards during his absence. The game see-sawed between both sides until the 33rd minute when Sid Matthews, for Gensians, scored from a penalty goal to even the match at 3-3. Just before the half closed came the first moment of drama in the match. Attempting a sweeping backs move, Chinnor dropped the ball in midfield. Pouncing on the loose ball, Gensians winger Craig Clements seemed to have a clear run to the line. Out of nowhere, Sam Stoop chased down his man and with an outstretched hand, just 5 metres from the line, tap-tackled Clements. In the ensuing scramble, Chinnor got the ball away to safety to keep the half time score at 3-3.
The second half began much like the first half with both packs of forwards engaged in a war of attrition with occasional forays from the backs. Redingensians however were clearly getting more into the match. For a period of about 10 minutes they laid siege to the Chinnor line but could not find a way through a tough defence. On the 73rd minute, fly half Matthews, getting desperate at the lack of scoring from such committed attacking, dropped for goal. Dramatically, the ball wobbled, bounced on the crossbar and went over to give Gensians a 6-3 lead. With only seven minutes left and with previous difficulties in scoring, it looked like a final score. But no, there was more drama to come. With a surging break out by lock forward Sam Black, the ball was quickly recycled. Rapid accurate passing across the back line saw the ball into Ben Farr?s hands. His pace took him wide of his marker to dot down in the corner on the 77th minute. The conversion was wide but Chinnor now had an 8-6 lead with just three minutes remaining. Time for more drama. On the 80th minute, the ref blew for a penalty against Chinnor. Matthews stepped up to take the shot straight in front of the posts some 30 metres out. The crowd held its breath as the kick sailed wide and the ref blew for full time.
Thank goodness for the tap tackle from Stoop that saved the game for Chinnor.
Chinnor team: Wallace, Farr, Williams, Hewitt (Brown 56), Stoop, Cathcart, Prescott, Winpenny, Webster, Pickett (Matthews 66), Hutchings, Black, Jackman (Mowbray 77), Hastings, Gilbert
Reps: Matthews, Mowbray, Brown.