Chinnor U18 25 - 22 Bracknell U18

On a glorious sunny autumnal afternoon in Thame, Chinnor U18's hosted Bracknell U18's in a highly competitive and throughly enjoyable OBB Div 1 league fixture.

This was a fixture in which Chinnor took their chances whilst Bracknell were unable to turn possession in to points, mainly through a number of recurring errors and poor decision making.

Bracknell kicked off and reacted quickest to the ball which barely crept beyond the 10m line, they began brightly stringing together penetrating and structured phases which led to a penalty opportunity wide out. Oli Radford converted the penalty off an 'elevated' kicking tee borrowed from the opposition - never easy.

Chinnor responded minutes later sending their lumpy 13 crashing over the gain line, before Bracknell secured the turnover and cleared their line. Chinnors direct approach continued from the attacking line-out which created a wide blindside ripe for the attack. Failing to see the danger Bracknell were exposed and some slick hands from Chinnor put them in to the corner to take a 5-3 lead after 6 mins. The conversion was missed.

The restart was delayed whilst the passive/aggressive Chinnor linesman insisted on the referee confining the visitors coaching team to the technical area and complained of some backchat from a Bracknell player - this Giggling Squid needs a thicker exoskeleton!

Duly confined the Bracknell coaching team watched their side press hard going forward with Jamie Johnson, Tom Scott and Tom Furmedge prominent, whilst defending with commitment and intensity, none more so than the granite like Liam Collins and Josh Knight. Bracknell's midfield we're dealing well with the hard running 8 & 13 and with the Chinnor attacks orchestrated by their classy 10. The Bracknell road block held firm, until a loose chip ahead was fielded deep - the Bracknell kick chase was poor - Chinnor attacked the open spaces, ran hard and sliced through a fragmented midfield defence to score what was an excellent counter-attack try. The conversion was missed. Chinnor led 10-3 on 14mins.

This score, against the run of play, was the catalyst for Bracknell best spell of the game - for the remainder of the half the visitors dominated.

During this period the energy & intensity of Bracknell's game was best illustrated on 19mins, when Bracknell kicked deep and chased hard snaring their prey like a trapper in the Rockies - the whistle blew and from the resulting centre field scrum on the Chinnor 22 Bracknell executed an exquisite 8, 9, 15 attack to the right - Michael Hardcastle glided in to score. The conversion was missed, Chinnors lead was reduced to 10-8.

The Bracknell dominance continued, but familiar errors began to creep back in - handling errors, ball retention and upright body positions carrying into contact halted their progress too many times.

A questionable scrum penalty was awarded to Bracknell, which resulted in a kick to touch and a line out on the Chinnor 5m. How often does the unexpected flat foot a team defensively, and this line out was a good example. The Bracknell throw sailed over the rising jumper, the anticipated recipient, and fell in to Tom Scotts who drove over almost unopposed. Oli Radford converted and Bracknell led 10-15.

Bracknell again attacked hard as half time approached, with Robbie Robson leading from the front with a lung-busting charge upfield, but again the errors crept in and provided Chinnor with ball to play with - during one attack, Bracknell once again fell asleep and reacted slowly to a grubber kick which was collected by their chasers. The conversion was successful and Chinnor led at half time 17-15.
The coaches message called for the same intensity, consistency through the phases and a reduction in error count - Bracknell were the better team, Chinnor more clinical - the first 10mins of the 2nd period would be seminal. What followed, was an exciting but frustrating half of rugby, full of endeavour from both sides. The offside line didn't exist, stifling progress with ball in hand - neither side could settle with the constant whistle - it became a fragmented affair - the referee was 'consistent' but the director of this faltering drama.

Bracknell again started the brightest, cutting the Chinnor midfield apart with some slick hands and running lines only to lose the ball in contact again, the resultant Chinnor clearance turned the Bracknell machine 180 degrees and 40m down field.

Deep in their half, on 41mins Bracknell with the ball secure at the 8's feet where penalised for driving beyond 1.5m - The call to "hold the drive" was not heard - the following Chinnor attacking line led to a score from short range. The conversion was missed and Chinnor led 22-15.

Bracknell continued to press and create overlaps, but these were not exploited - vision is hard to coach as is game management, this comes with experience, and it will develop as this team gels - the 9/10 channel should remain free of bodies, and only filled with forwards on the charge at the request of the playmaker as he bosses the team forward. All too often, with the blinkers on Bracknell bashed around the fringes when two passes wide would have found space and opportunity in abundance.

On 56 mins a tackle on the Bracknell 22 was adjudged high and Chinnor converted the opportunity to lead 25-15. Bracknell were less fortunate when a clear knee drop went unpunished in kickable range. Bracknell continue to cut holes on Chinnor defence, Oli Radford and Michael Hardcastle making ground, but ultimately these attacks faded out. Now chasing the game the Bracknell attacks were now fractious and unstructured, the endeavour was unquestionable from both teams - Bracknell ran hard, Chinnor tackled hard.

On 29mins the Bracknell pressure told - at an attacking line out on the Chinnor 5m line, Tom Scott collected the ball at the rear once again and dived for the line - the ball was dislodged or was it an offload - either way the ball popped up for Ben Hallaways to collect and dot down. Oli Radford converted and the Chinnor lead was reduced to 25-22 with 6 mins to play, or at least that what we all thought!

With almost 3 mins to play the game was stopped for an injury to a Bracknell player - the referee stopped his watch but when asked "how long" refused to advise the players, when pressed he stated 2mins. Moments later with the Bracknell player still being attended too by the physio the referee changed his tune, advised Chinnor 'final play' - the ball was kicked from the field and the whistle blown! In line with the Premiership, post-match the referee was unavailable for comment, so we can only assume watch malfunction as the main contributor to this indecision.

This was a totally unsatisfactory and farcical end to a highly committed game between two good teams - a real shame but well done to Chinnor in your victory - we look forward to seeing you at Lily Hill Park for the return fixture later this season.

As promised Becky R here's your anagram - 'Chuck Said'...!!!