Chinnor 29 Richmond 14

With thoughts drifting to next week’s Champ play-off game against the Scots, Richmond heavily rotated their team for this league game against Chinnor. All last week’s starting XV were rested or benched, providing deserved opportunities for some returning injured players as well as other squad members who have regularly proved their quality in the Vikings.

In the circumstances, Richmond’s defeat by fifteen points was highly creditable against a largely full strength team, who now sit in fifth position in the Champ table. For half an hour, Richmond dominated this game and were still ahead at half time. However, in the second half, Chinnor tightened their game and made use of a hefty pack of forwards who in the end had too much bulk and power for the lighter Richmond pack. However, Richmond never gave up trying and offered staunch defence throughout.

The end of league season fixture attracted a crowd of over two thousand to a ground which is being steadily upgraded. Most of the crowd came to see Chinnor claim the points they needed to earn a top six play off place. So, Richmond’s strong start to the game soon appeared to unnerve supporters looking for a celebration.

Connor Slevin’s kick off was well judged and put the home side under immediate pressure, earning Richmond a penalty in the follow up. Unfortunately, Richmond then got pinged for crossing as they set up for the drive. However, Richmond continued to dominate the early minutes, with skipper Alex Schwarz working the blindside to good effect.

The Richmond backs looked full of running, well prompted by Slevin, and Archie Brosch and Josh Addams almost worked an opening before being recalled for a forward pass. The breakthrough came after nine minutes. Another well angled kick by Schwarz earned a line out around eighteen metres out and the forwards bludgeoned their way towards the posts. Archie Winchurch-Beale then alertly spotted the ball loose and ran unobstructed to the line. Slevin’s conversion made it 0-7 and a good start.

However, two minutes later, momentum was slightly stalled by the concession of a penalty and yellow card for a high tackle by Jimmy Litchfield. Richmond initially held out well, but a penalty provided Chinnor with their first real attack of the game and they took full advantage. Lock Jamie Campbell secured the line out ball, and his side ran the ball wide left and right before flanker Will Cave shook himself sufficiently clear of two tacklers to get the touchdown.

Back to fifteen men, Richmond continued to threaten, Slevin’s kick to the wing nearly sending Addams clear, whilst Brosch was having a good game on the other wing. In the 23rd minute, Chinnor conceded a penalty for not releasing and Slevin’s line kick was again spot on. J. J. O’Dea secured the line out ball under pressure and the pack drive forward, fortified by a call of advantage from referee George Selwood. This time it was the ever hard working No 8 Miles Wakeling, who got the try, and Slevin added the conversion.

At this point, Chinnor gradually started to create more chances, but the Richmond defence worked hard, helped by small errors by the opposition. On the cusp of half time, a Chinnor forward made what looked to be a decisive break but, a few metres out, confidently slipped an inside pass to his support only to find nobody there. The half time score therefore stayed at 7-14.

Richmond got off to a good start in the second half, Slevin taking full advantage of a Chinnor offside call to put his side in the Chinnor 22. A neat chip and chase by the fly half almost came off but Chinnor then showed ominous power at the set scrum to earn a penalty and the chance to get back into the Richmond half. They lost fly half Nathan Chamberlain, but the versatile Luke Carter switched position from scrum half.

The home pack were now really dominant with Campbell consistently mopping up all the line out ball and the changed front row providing extra ballast. Six minutes into the second half, the Chinnor forwards battered the Richmond defence from eighteen metres before spreading the ball wide for Kieran Goss to claim an easy touch down.

Now in a 14-12 lead, Chinnor looked increasingly confident as Richmond struggled for possession and territory. Greg Kitson looked fleetingly dangerous at the back and Slevin made one unsupported clean break. But the Chinnor pack now ruled the roost and Richmond were pressed back into commendable defence. They held out for a further seventeen minutes but, under pressure, coughed up possession with a misdirected long pass. Chinnor needed no second invitation and Alun Walker was at the back of the drive as the forwards drove over.

In the final ten minutes, Chinnor pressed to extend their lead and added two more tries. A superbly judged cross kick by Carter provided Goss with a second try and a lead of 22-14 but the final try was again fittingly earned by the power of the home pack. Richmond defended staunchly through a number of phases, but Chinnor now had their heads up and scored their final try of the game through substitute Willie Ryan.

Chinnor progress to the play offs against Worcester Warriors whilst Richmond return home to do battle with London Scottish. The game kicks off at 2pm on May 16 so prepare your voices to support the boys against those Scots.

Team: G.Kitson, A.Brosch, R.Du Randt, S.Dardis, J.Addams, C.Slevin, A.Schwarz, C.Freeman, C.Torpey, J.Litchfield, A.Winchurtch-Beale, J.J.O’Dea, J.Cardew, H.Wills, M.Wakeling.

Subs: W.Roddy, B.Vaughan, H.Murray, G.Nugent, S.Pim, C.Gallen, A,Burrage, C.Burne,

Tries: Winchurch-Beale, Wakeling.
Conversion: Slevin (2)