MATCH REPORT: Saturday, April 18, 2009 – Home match Chinnor 29pts, London Scottish 59 pts. (Contributed)
WITHIN minutes of the game starting it became patently evident why London Scottish are top of the league and have remained unbeaten all season. With James Brown, Gary Trueman, Iain Fullerton and Chinnor “old boy,” Paul Volley, all having played Premiership Rugby last season in their ranks, there was a huge amount of experience in the team. They looked a well oiled machine and, from the first whistle, were obviously intent in maintaining their unblemished record.
Although Chinnor held them at bay for 11 minutes, during which time they hardly had a touch of the ball, London Scottish then rattled up five tries in the ensuing 24 minutes, leaving Chinnor facing a massive defeat. A try by James Serrano, five minutes before the interval, gave Chinnor a little respite but trailing by 35 points to three at half time and obviously much more to come from the Scottish juggernaut, any chance of Chinnor gaining a point from the game by scoring another three tries appeared slim.
That they scored four tries in the second half by playing some quite outstanding attacking rugby, gave Chinnor a glimmer of hope in remaining in this most prestigious of leagues.
With Chris Mahoney out with a broken thumb and Arthur Ellis on Wasps duties, Trevor Powell came back into the centre with stalwart Alan Cawston to over the hooking duties.
The game started at breakneck speed with the big, speedy and streetwise Scottish calling all the shots. Chinnor defended stoutly during the first 11 minutes, but it was inevitable that a try was in the offing at any time. Ben Gotting, another player of some pedigree, was the first to score. Rory Damant then went over twice in the space of four minutes, the second from a huge overlap, before Gareth Swales and William Lipp added to the Chinnor woes. James Brown converted all five tries.
Then it was Chinnor’s turn. In one of their few incursions into Scottish territory, they moved the ball along the line to James Serrano who dipped his shoulder to bounce off his opposite number, retain his footing, and score a fine individual try. So, 35 points to three at half-time with Chinnor facing down the barrel of a fairly large shot-gun.
Chinnor started with real intent straight after the interval. They went close before spreading the ball wide. A potential scoring pass, intended for Richard Williams just five metres from the line, was intercepted by winger Charles Broughton who ran the length of the field to score under the posts. This was cruel in the extreme in that it was just two minutes into the second half with Chinnor looking to score. With Brown adding the easy conversion and then adding two more from tries by Livingston Grant, an Andy Ripley look-alike, particularly in stature, made the score 54 points to five with 30 minutes remaining.
This heralded a Chinnor revival of some epic proportion. Firstly Trevor Powell picked up a loose ball some 25 metres out to scythe through the Scottish defence and score near the posts. James Cathcart, now at full back following a tactical switch with Ben Hewitt, converted. Just four minutes later, Hewiitt cut inside to wrongfoot the Scottish defence to go over the line. Three tries scored, 21 minutes remaining and one try needed to gain a bonus point. Could Chinnor do it? Yes they could. Four minutes later a sweeping move from a set piece scrum saw the ball move sweetly to young Tom Sheil. He rounded his opposite number to score what may be Chinnor’s most important try of the season. Not to be outdone, Scottish then added another try from substitute, Lorne Ward, before Hewitt went over for his brace of tries with Cathcart converting from the touchline. This left a second half scoreline reading of 24 points apiece.
It was quite euphoric at the final whistle at Kingsey Road. To come back from a 49 point deficit with 30 minutes remaining is no mean feat by anyone’s standards. A great team performance even though the scoreline was pretty emphatic in Scottish’s favour. However this too can be placed in context in that Scottish have only conceded three tries in any of their games in this campaign, whilst their average points against is a measly 11.
There were some outstanding individual performances from the Chinnor boys where many names could be mentioned. One though, who has to be mentioned in dispatches, is Alan “Cosher ” Cawston. He has, because of working duties, only been on the periphery this season and has consequently only had the odd first team run-out. To play in such a hard game after such a lengthy absence take more than a few knocks, keep going and stay with the pace. speaks volumes for his attitude. He epitomises the Chinnor spirit.