Category: Sports News

CHINNOR RFC started the second half of the season in style on Saturday, January 4 2020, when they faced Hull Ionians away from home.

The Thame-based team produced a superb second half performance to beat Hull Ionians 54-7 in their first game of 2020, running in eight tries in Yorkshire to move up to fourth in National League One. This still leaves them nine points behind leaders, Rosslyn Park, heading into next Friday’s mouth-watering clash at home to Rams, who are only second by virtue of defeats.

Josh Pieterse, Laurence May, Josh Hodson, Ehize Ehizode, Nick Selway, Jason Worrall and Sam Yawayawa crossed for Chinnor after the hosts had led 7-0. But the visitors, though slow out of the blocks early on, upped their game to secure their biggest win of the season.

Hull took the lead against the run of play on 25 minutes when Jack Colbourne intercepted May’s pass on half-way and raced over unopposed, Max Titchener converting, to make it 7-0.

Chinnor were undeterred and the score seemed to help them find another gear, culminating in three scores in the space of six minutes to go 21-7 in front through a penalty try, Pieterse and May, the latter converting twice. Hodson then crossed after the break for the four-try bonus point, with May adding the extras, to make it 28-7.

Chinnor’s dominance continued and scores from Selway, Ehizode, Worrall and Yawayawa, Caolan Ryan converting twice and May once, helped them to a dominant victory.

What’s next?

As Chinnor began their preparations for Rams last night (Monday), moving their training sessions a day forward to take into account this week’s fixture, Director of Rugby, Matt Williams says his Chinnor side is heading into Friday’s mouth-watering local derby with Rams (7.45pm ko) in good shape following the win over Hull. It’s the first time the club has hosted a Friday night National League game.

“We’ve got a quick turnaround this week now,” he said. “Rams pose a whole different problem because they are flying high at the moment and it is our local derby, but we achieved what we needed to at Hull and that was to score five points. It’s now about revving things up in training, ready for the huge challenge of Rams.”

The Hull fixture proved beneficial for prop Camilo Parilli-Ocampo who made his debut off the bench after recovering from a torn bicep, while Oscar Heath was handed his first appearance of the season. Josh Hodson marked his first game since November with a try, while Josh Pieterse and Laurence May opened their accounts for the club.

Williams added: “We actually started the game pretty ropey – we were trying too hard. There were a lot of opportunities out there in the first 30 minutes, but it wasn’t through a lack of endeavour just a lack of composure. They (Hull) scored an interception try against the run of play and we found ourselves seven points down after 23 minutes. But the try settled us down, allowing us to get back into structure. We then scored three good tries before half-time and I felt our second half performance was very good.

“We took our chances and I was particularly pleased with the bench. The guys who came on made a big impact and Sam Yawayawa did very well in the middle of the park; he showed some great footwork. It was good to have Josh Hodson back on the field and it was a pleasing start to the year for sure.”

Williams continued: “Apart from a couple of boys who are out injured, Chris Elder being one of them, I think the squad is in a good shape now. A lot of boys, who have been hungry for minutes for a while, got game time against Hull. The squad depth is strong when you can afford to have people like Will Harries and Carl Kirwan on the sidelines, while Ben Thomas was ill.

“Obviously it was also good to have Camilo make his debut for Chinnor and play 40 minutes.”

CHINNOR RFC return to action this Saturday, Janury 5, with an away trip to Hull, and Director of Rugby, Matt Williams, is calling on Chinnor to start 2020 on the right foot when they face Hull Ionians at the weekend.

The Thame-based side return to National League One action in Yorkshire on Saturday (2pm) following the Christmas break. The players reported back for training on Monday and are raring to go for the second half of the season after their seven-match. unbeaten run was ended by Richmond in the final game of 2019.

It saw the side slip to sixth in the table, but they are only nine points behind the leaders and Williams is hoping to begin the new year with a victory.

He said: “We were pleased for the Christmas break – it came at the right time. It was obviously a disappointing result against Richmond, but after 16 games the boys needed a break and we’re looking forward to Hull away on Saturday.”

Chinnor will be boosted by the return of Ehize Ehizode (concussion) while Camilo Parilli-Ocampo (torn bicep) is in contention for his debut, but Chris Elder (ankle) is still injured. Williams added: “The boys are fresh, they’re feeling good and enjoyed their first training session back on Monday. It was just a blow out to get the Christmas turkey out of their legs and we were back to it again on Thursday evening.”

Saturday’s fixture goes ahead despite the death of Hull player, Billy Hardy, at the age of just 27, on December 28th. The thoughts of everyone at Chinnor Rugby Club Thame are with Billy’s friends and family at this difficult time,” said Williams. All of us at Chinnor send our condolences to Hull. It’s always a tough time when you lose someone within a club.”

SATURDAY’S SQUAD
Chinnor (v Hull Ionians, away): from Ashby, Ehizode, Fidler, George, Goss, Harries, Hodson, Kirwan, Laverick, May, McNulty, Parilli-Ocampo, Pieterse, Rees, C Ryan, W Ryan, Selway, Thomas, Treviranus, Tyas.

MATT Williams, Director of Rugby at Chinnor RFC, believed there would be plenty more twists and turns as Chinnor RFC headed into the Christmas break in National League One’s top six.

The Thame-based side are just nine points behind leaders Rosslyn Park, who top the third tier of English rugby by virtue of fewer defeats over Richmond and Rams. A seven-match unbeaten run, which included four straight home wins, had helped Chinnor close the gap to the frontrunners.

Although Richmond triumphed 21-5 at Kingsey Road on Saturday, December 21, the Oxfordshire club are still in the mix and Williams predicts there will be more drama to come saying: “We’ve just played 16 games in a row. We started the season sluggish and we finished the first half well. Yes, it’s disappointing that we lost to Richmond, but it’s one of 16 games. There’s still 14 to go and we’re still at the right end of the table. There will be much change between now and the end of the season as to who finishes in the top places.”

Chinnor had headed into the Richmond fixture in a confident mood after a 37-27 win over fellow challengers Darlington Mowden Park extended their unbeaten run. But they were unable to end the decade with five successive home wins as the visitors came out on top.

Williams added: “I think the best team won. We were a little naïve and that is something we haven’t shown in recent weeks. Their defence was well-drilled and we struggled to find penetration in the first half.

“We went back to basics in the second half, latched a lot of the ball carriers, got over the gain line, and created lots of space. I don’t know if the boys thought, because the scoreboard was past 80 minutes, the game was done, but we started making some crazy decisions when there was still time on the clock to put ourselves in the right position.

“But all credit goes to Richmond, they deserved the win, they were the better team.”

MATCH REPORT

CHINNOR were unable to finish the decade with a fifth straight home win as leaders Richmond triumphed 21-5 at Kingsey Road.

Hooker Nick Selway crossed for the Oxfordshire side in the second half, but it proved only a consolation as they suffered their first defeat since October 26.
Coaches, players and volunteers worked hard in the morning to clear standing water from the pitch to ensure the National League 1 game could be played. But the home side could not keep Richmond at bay as the visitors dominated the first half to lead 18-0.

Tom Hodgson’s penalty put the leaders 3-0 up after 16 minutes, before the fly-half converted his own try to extend their lead to ten points. Chinnor did have an opportunity to break the deadlock after half an hour, but Laurence May’s penalty attempt slipped wide. And Richmond went on to extend their advantage through Alexander Bibic’s unconverted try, before Hodgson added another penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Chinnor were unable to prevent the visitors extending their advantage to 21 points through the boot of Hodgson. However, Richmond did not trouble the try-line again for the rest of the game as the hosts enjoyed more territory.

They were unable to stage a comeback, though, and Selway’s unconverted try with six minutes remaining proved only a consolation.

Chinnor return to action on January 4, 2020, when they make the trip up to Yorkshire to face Hull Ionians. Their first home game of 2020 takes place on Friday, January 10 (7.45pm) as they take on Rams in a mouth-watering derby.

MATT Williams, Director of Rugby, has said that his Chinnor side head into this weekend’s mouth-watering clash at home to Richmond full of confidence as they bid to end 2019 on a high.

The Thame-based side welcome the leaders to Kingsey Road on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run in the third tier. Chinnor’s fine form includes four successive home victories, with last week’s 37-27 triumph over Darlington Mowden Park being one of their stand-out performances of the National League 1 campaign. The Oxfordshire club want to make sure they head into the Christmas break on a good note and close the five-point gap to Richmond, who won the reverse fixture back in September.

Matt Williams: “We owe them one, but I think the important thing for us is that this is deemed as just the next game in a long season. I don’t want our unbeaten run to become this big thing, but momentum is key – I say it every week. We’re feeling good at the moment and training is going well. It’s another week, but with the added opportunity of leapfrogging Richmond if the result goes our way. The guys are confident, they’re excited!

“Last Saturday was definitely the best performance of the season as a whole over 80 minutes. and it’s about replicating and improving this week.”

Jason Worrall has been one of Chinnor’s star performers in the first half of the season and crossed for a tenth time in the victory over Darlington. That score helped him become the league’s joint leading try-scorer and Williams was full of praise for the South African, saying: “Jason is a great character to have around and he is a professional as well. Culturally he’s great within the squad and we’ve got a few boys back now that add that bit of experience and seriousness.

“It was good to have Will Harries back on the pitch last week and I felt a few boys really stood up. Nick Selway had his best game for us; Chris Elder was great again, and I thought Callum Watson was superb – each week he plays he gets that fraction better. It was a good team performance and there were several strong displays amongst the group.”

Chinnor will be without lock, Ehize Ehizode (concussion), while they will make a late call on the fitness of captain Carl Kirwan and centre Elder (both ankle).
SATURDAY’S SQUAD
Chinnor (v Richmond, home): from Ashby, Dancer, Elder, George, Goss, Harries, Kirwan, Laverick, Manning, May, McNulty, Pieterse, Ramshaw, C Ryan, W Ryan, Selway, Southworth, Thomas, Tyas, Watson, Worrall, Yawayawa.

CHINNOR produced one of their most complete performances of the season to secure a 37-27 win over Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday (14/12).

Tries from Will Harries, Jason Worrall, James Tyas, Dan Southworth and Kieran Goss helped the Oxfordshire side make it four home victories in a row and extend their unbeaten run to seven.

It proved an attritional affair and a vital victory for Chinnor over a side they had started the day level on points with in National League 1.

Darlington took an early lead when Josh Hodge crossed on five minutes, Warren Seals converting, but the hosts levelled moments later through Harries’s score, Laurence May adding the extras.

The visitors were the better side in the opening 20 minutes and led 15-7 through Max Davies’s try and a Seals penalty. Chinnor responded well, though, to head into the break 18-15 in front as two May penalties sandwiched a fine try from Worrall.

The hosts made a dream start to the second period when Tyas drove over, May converting, to make it 25-15. Darlington hit back as tries from Rob Farrar and Oliver Walker hauled them into a two-point lead after 56 minutes, but Chinnor were not to be undone. Southworth drove across, May converting, for the four-try bonus point, before Goss raced over out wide with four minutes to go to put the game beyond Mowden.

Matt Williams, Director of Rugby, said Chinnor’s performance against Darlington Mowden Park was the ‘most pleasing’ yet as they stretched their record unbeaten run in the third tier to seven games.

Starting the day level on points with Mowden, fourth-placed Chinnor have now opened up a four-point gap over the teams below them. And it sets up a thrilling end to 2019 as leaders Richmond, who are five points in front of the Oxfordshire side, visit Kingsey Road on Saturday.

Darlington had headed to Thame on the back of scoring 22 tries in their last five games, but Chinnor proved they were capable of outscoring the County Durham side. Matt Williams added: “That was the most pleasing performance of the season. I thought as an 80-minute game goes, it was the most controlled we’ve been.
We looked very dangerous with ball in hand, we crossed the gain line literally every time we touched it, and we were composed.

“We made a few errors defensively that gifted them a couple of tries, but I think overall that’s our strongest performance of the season. It was two very strong teams, both in-form, the boys were looking forward to it and we carried on – it’s seven in a row now. It feels like a big win.

“It’s about momentum and suddenly Kingsey Road is becoming a tough place to come again. The boys are in a buoyant mood, it feels good, there’s a nice buzz in the group and we are very much looking forward to welcoming Richmond on Saturday.”

KEEP fit this festive season with squash at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame. They are running one-day tournaments and squash
camp/workshops over the holidays.

Two ‘skills and drills’ workshops are planned this month, one on December 21, and another on the 27th, running from 4pm to 6pm. The workshops will include routines and coaching to improve your game and make sure you do some fitness. All standards welcome.

On January 4, there will be two, One-Day short tournaments – one for A/B standard at 5pm – 7pm and one for C/D/E standard 3.30pm to 5pm, and round robins of similar standard players.

So, plenty of opportunities to help you keep fit and healthy and combat some of the excesses of the season.

Book in advance HERE

FOLLOWING Chinnor RFC’s win at Birmingham Moseley on Saturday, December 7, Matt Williams has praised his side’s ability to win ugly, as Chinnor continued their fine run of form.

A 22-17 victory at Birmingham Moseley on Saturday saw the Thame-based side go six games unbeaten and climb to fourth in National League 1. It proved a physical battle in the West Midlands where Chinnor were forced to play out the final moments on their own try-line.

The visitors made a phenomenal start and led 17-0 after 20 minutes. Moseley slowly cut the deficit through four penalties and Morgan Dawes’ unconverted try brought the sides level after 68 minutes. But Chinnor responded brilliantly with Jason Worrall crossing for his second score of the game, before they saw out a nail-biting final few moments.

It was another tense battle and director of rugby Matt Williams was delighted to leave Billesley Common with four points. “We love giving the paying punters a game at Chinnor,” he said. “What can I say? It wasn’t pretty; it was very scrappy; there were a lot of penalties, but we were incredible for the first 18 minutes.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Moseley then woke up but it was a huge game, both teams putting in some massive hits with two big packs. Moseley had obviously come back with their strong group of forwards. I know they have been struggling and it was good to see a lot of those boys back on the pitch. But I said to the guys before the game that it wasn’t going to be the Moseley we had done our analysis on, and that it was going to be a real battle – that’s exactly what it was.

“If you’re going to turn a corner, if you’re going to go on a roll, you have to be able to win ugly and we really won ugly.”

Chinnor finish 2019 with back-to-back home games. They welcome Darlington Mowden Park to Kingsey Road this Saturday, before hosting Richmond on December 21.

MATT Williams has stressed the importance of his Chinnor side finishing November with a bonus-point victory on Saturday.

The Thame-based club welcome Cambridge to Kingsey Road on the back of a promising run of form.

Chinnor are four games unbeaten in National League One, following home wins over Canterbury and Sale, as well as draws at Rosslyn Park and Plymouth Albion.

A bonus-point victory this weekend would see the Oxfordshire side collect 17 points from a possible 25 in November and head into the final month of 2019 with momentum.

The fact Chinnor have not been beaten since October 26 pleases director of rugby Williams, but he is calling for maximum points on Saturday.

“It’s been a strange month,” he said. “We talk about consistency every week and the fact we are unbeaten in November so far is good. But we’ve had two draws and two wins, so it’s not as rosy as it would seem.

“However, we’re back at home; we’ve won the last two games at Kingsey Road, and if we get a five-pointer on Saturday then it’s been a strong month. If we don’t, then the two fighting draws we’ve pulled off are for nothing.”

Chinnor’s run has seen them close the gap to the top to eight points and they will be hoping to further eat into leaders Rosslyn Park’s advantage. But Williams know his side will have to be at their very best to beat Cambridge.

Former Chinnor player and backs coach, Richie Williams, brings his team to Thame on the back of only one loss in their last four games. Matt Williams said: “This is probably the most exciting league – everyone beats everyone. Cambridge are a great example. I feel they are a team finding their form at the moment and their league position doesn’t do them justice. As a former player and coach here, it will mean a lot to Richie to come to Kingsey Road and try to get one over us.“

Chinnor are boosted by the return of Chris Elder (illness), Ofisa Treviranus (unavailability) and Ben Thomas (suspension). Tom Fidler is also in contention after helping Poland beat Switzerland in the Rugby Europe Trophy last Saturday. However, Chinnor will be without Cameron Gray (ankle), while Kieran Goss (hip) and Will Harries (hamstring) are doubts.

SATURDAY’S SQUAD
Chinnor (v Cambridge, home): from Ashby, Dancer, Ehizode, Elder, Fidler, George, Goss, Hodson, Kirwan, Laverick, May, McNulty, Ramshaw, C Ryan, W Ryan, Selway, Southworth, Thomas, Treviranus, Watson, Worrall, Yawayawa.

MATT Williams, Director of Rugby, is clear that Chinnor ‘know what to expect’ when they face Plymouth Albion on Saturday (22/11).

The Thame-based side will make the 440-mile round trip to Devon in the hope of making it four games unbeaten in the third tier of English rugby.

Chinnor, who sit fifth in National League 1, and just five points behind second-placed Rosslyn Park, beat Plymouth on the opening day of last season. In the last three weeks, they have come up against big, dominant packs and director of rugby Williams is not expecting anything different this weekend.

“It’s always a good game down in Plymouth” he said. “It’s a great ground, with great supporters, and it’s always a physical welcome. They have a big pack – pretty much the same as the last couple of weeks – and they’re going to come at us hard.”

Williams, whose side will travel to Plymouth on Friday, added: “It’s always windy down there as well. I would imagine it’s going to be pretty heavy under foot, which will suit them so we’re pretty confident we know what’s coming and it’s going to be another week of fronting up.

“The boys understand they cannot defend like they did in the second half last week, but if we can get the balance right, I think we will do well.”

Plymouth sit 12th in the table and head into the fixture off the back of a 49-22 defeat at Darlington Mowden Park. But Williams knows Chinnor should expect nothing but a difficult contest.

“Plymouth away and Plymouth at home are two very different teams,” he said. “They will be expecting to win on home soil and will be particularly keen to win after last week’s result.”

Chinnor are boosted by the return of forwards, Jack Ramshaw (Achilles) and Joe Dancer (elbow). “Both boys are up for selection, which I’m really pleased about,” continued Williams. “We’ve not seen Jack Ramshaw yet this year; he was our stalwart forward enforcer last year. Joe Dancer was obviously player of the year and we’ve missed him badly since the start of the season. There’s not a better lineout technician than him in the league, so I’m looking forward to having them both in the mix.”

SATURDAY’S SQUADS
Chinnor (v Plymouth Albion, away): from Ashby, Dancer, Ehizode, Elder, George, Goss, Gray, Hodson, Kirwan, Laverick, Manning, Marley, May, McNulty, C Ryan, W Ryan, Ramshaw, Selway, Southworth, Treviranus, Watson, Worrall, Yawayawa.

CHINNOR RFC made it three games unbeaten when they saw off Sale 38-31 in an entertaining clash at Kingsey Road on Saturday (16/11).

The Thame-based side produced some scintillating rugby to score six tries and lead 38-7 at half-time. But Sale came roaring back to close to within a converted score with nine minutes to go, before Chinnor dug in to record a bonus-point victory.

The home side raced into a 19-0 lead after 20 minutes, thanks to a penalty try and two scores from Nick Selway at driving lineouts, Laurence May converting once. Dan Birchall drove over, James Williams converting, as Sale replied, but Chinnor continued to dominate and scored three more tries in the space of ten minutes.

Jake Ashby, Chris Elder and Josh Hodson touched down, May converting twice, as they led by 31 points at the break.

Sale were always going to come out firing in the second half and reduced the deficit to 14 after 58 minutes, thanks to scores from Williams, who converted his own try, Jake Barron and Edward Leatherbarrow. The visitors then found themselves within a converted try with nine minutes to go after Jarad Williams dived over, James Williams converting.

But Chinnor defended brilliantly late on to win a pulsating encounter.

Photo: Nick Selway, scoring his second try, is congratulated by Carl Kirwan. (Image credit David Howlett)