CHINNOR RFC achieved a comfortable victory over already relegated Shelford, on Saturday (18/04), scoring eight tries in a 52-13 win.
Chinnor opened the scoring in the second minute when Jack Hayes dotted down after a gap opened up in midfield for Boughton whose delayed fake pass bamboozled the opposition and put Hayes clean away. A Shelford penalty goal from Steve Smith put the visitors on the scoreboard before Keohane scored in the corner to put the home side 12-3 ahead. Shelford were then denied a try under the posts when the touch judge spotted a knock on in the build up play. A stab through kick from Boughton saw the ball bounce off a Shelford player into the hands of Blewitt who sprinted to the posts from 60 metres out. Keohane added the extras for a 19-3 lead to Chinnor. With the Chinnor scrum in the ascendant, the fifth penalty scrum in front of the posts led to a drive over try with To’oala stretching the Chinnor lead to 26-3. Shelford replied with a try from prop Matt Gregson who casually trotted through a hole at the ruck after some good play in the Chinnor 22. Another converted try from Keohane saw the Oxfordshire boys go in 33-8 ahead at the break with the bonus point try in the bag.
The third quarter of the match was relatively quiet until Chinnor’s Ryan Long was yellow carded and immediately Shelford scored a try by Aki Lea from the resultant penalty line out drive. Straight from the restart, a Shelford defender dropped the ball to allow Waddingham to gather at full pace and sprint 20 metres to the line for Chinnor’s sixth try of the day. Keohane converted to put Chinnor 40-13 ahead with 57 minutes played. A sharp outside break saw Martey dot down in the corner for try number seven. In the last play of the day, a Shelford kick went straight to the arms of Blewitt who again scorched in from deep for the final try, converted by Keohane to give Chinnor a 52-13 victory.
Shelford, although already relegated, were in this match throughout but suffered particularly at scrum time. The high gusting wind did not help any of the lineouts.
Chinnor’s pack led the way with superior set piece and an all smothering defence when without the ball. The backs utilised the steady supply of good ball where pace and good running lines consistently found holes in the opposition defence. Hayes, in his last home match before joining Championship side Rotherham, showed just why he’ll be greatly missed at Kingsey Road. He displayed all the tricks of back play with pacy tenacious running and rock like defence. Boughton played well in his unusual position of fly half and Keohane, at full back, bagged a well deserved personal tally of 22 points.
The pack set the tone of the day with the font row union showing dominance throughout. The back row are a well balanced unit with the power of To’oala matched by the industry of Tyas, who becomes more influential with each match, and Waddingham. Waddingham, now back playing regularly after a long injury layoff, narrowly gets the man of the match award above three or four other worthy candidates, for a tireless display of tackling, ball carrying and some useful sprinting ability.
Teams
Chinnor: Ed Keohane, Robbie Martey, George Blewitt, Jack Hayes, Reuben Haile, Reece Boughton, Frank Jones, Ricardo Cano, Joe Pickett, David Coutts, Ben Manning, Christian Ostberg, James Tyas, Alex Waddingham, Alfie To’oala (c)
Interchanges: Ian Stock, Alan Cawston, Darren Oliver, Ryan Long, George Grose
Shelford: Shingai Chiwanga, Ivan Karsten, Warrick Anderson, Steve Smith, Andrew Scott, John Naylor, Charlie Baker, Joe Winter, Will Ringrose, Matt Gregerson, Rupert Ransom
Redmond Newberry, Scott Jackowski, Jason Billows, Richie McIver
Interchanges: Alex Boyce, Gary McLaughlin, Josh Taylor, Lewis Cracknell, Aki Lea
Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Hayes (2), Keohane (9, 39), Blewitt (19, 80), To’oala (30), Waddingham (56), Martey (77)
Conversions (time): Keohane (3, 20, 31,40, 57,80)
Penalty Goals (time):
Drop goals (time):
Shelford
Tries: (time) Gregson (33), Lea (54)
Conversions: (time)
Penalty Goals (time): Smith (6)
Drop goals (time):
Referee: Calum Howard
SOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell
Fats and his team were presented with a mural of ‘Rugby Roger’ (pictured) which the Thomley staff had put together to promote the workshop, and which is now on display in the Chinnor RFC clubhouse.
