RAMS KNOCKED OFF TOP SPOT AS THEY SLIP TO CHINNOR DEFEAT
Chinnor 21 Rams 7
RAMS slipped to a first National One defeat in five games as Chinnor won their top-of-the-table clash 21-7 at Kingsey Road.
The opening stages proved fairly even with both sides feeling each other out, but it was Rams who hit the front as they showed their scrum power by winning one against the head on their opponents’ 22.
The ball was subsequently shuffled right, and following a couple of pick-and-goes, Ben Atkins was able to creep over the line for a score added to by Fraser Honey.
The visitors had a chance to extend their lead shortly afterwards, but were penalised on the five-metre line before Chinnor made them pay in ruthless fashion.
A couple of rolling mauls, aided by another penalty, took them into Rams’ 22, and following a barrage of assaults near the line, the ball was shipped right where man-of-the-match scrumhalf Luke Carter dived across the whitewash.
George Worboys landed a superb touchline conversion to level matters, and his side could have taken the lead only to be held up under the posts.
Chinnor were beginning to come on strong as the halfhour mark passed, and things got worse for the visitors when Charlie Robson was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on in midfield.
Worboys made a rare mistake as his kick to the corner was too long, but the hosts were soon back in Rams’ 22 and hit the front with the final play of the first-half.
Rams did well to repel a maul and a couple of pick-and-goes, but their opponents patiently worked away before sending James Bourton over, Worboys with the extras for 14-7.
And Chinnor struck first after the interval, hoovering up a loose ball near halfway before surging forward.
While the visitors again defended manfully, the sizable frame of Connor Brockschmidt barged over for his side’s third try.
Another successful conversion extended the advantage to 14 points, and try as they might, Rams just couldn’t gain a foothold in the contest.
Coming up against the league’s tightest defence, the odd handling error stifled the rare moments when they built momentum, although a scrum penalty against the head gave them hope with 10 minutes remaining.
However, there attempts to tap-and-go on two occasions from five metres out failed to bear fruit, and when a turnover was kicked clear, their hopes were all but ended.
Chinnor pressed for a fourth try and bonus-point, but they were thwarted as they had to settle for a threepoint lead at the summit.
A LAST-DITCH Reading effort to grasp a victory proved unsuccessful in a tightly fought game against Witney.
The difference between the teams was Witney’s ability to take advantage of their opportunities in Reading’s 22, while Reading found it difficult to cross their opponents’ line, their try coming from Rob Cunningham in the final minute.
Reading took an early lead from a penalty at the break down, which was advanced 10 metres for a Witney player delaying play, and was converted by Tom Sharpe.
Witney struck back almost immediately and, from a line out within the Reading half, they kept possession through multiple phases eventually crossing under the posts for a converted try to give them a 7-3 lead.
This rush of scoring in the first five minutes was not a sign of things to come as for the rest of the first half the game developed into a dour battle in which the defences were on top.
Reading established a dominance in the scrums from which they earned frequent penalties, while Witney were dominant in the line outs winning their own ball and disrupting Reading’s possession.
Witney looked better in attack, but after their early try failed to penetrate the defence and Reading’s scrum dominance gave them a good share of territory.
Towards the end of the half Reading had their best opportunities when Witney were reduced to 13 men after two yellow cards in relatively quick succession.
Reading were unable to make use of their advantage as good defence and a series of handling errors stopped them from scoring before Witney were restored to full strength.
It was not until early in the second half that the next points were scored. These came from Witney who moved the ball out of their own half and forced a scrum near the line from which they worked an overlap to score an unconverted try in the corner.
Reading soon reduced this lead when David kicked a penalty after Witney received another yellow card, this time for a high tackle.
This made the score 6-12. Reading’s general play was better in the second half and David was just brought down close to the line after a fine line break.
Reading again failed to force their way over the Witney line but did win a penalty which David converted to narrow the lead to three points.
However, Witney came back with a fine opportunist effort from their full back who pounced on a fumbled catch in the Reading back field, kicked ahead then picked up one handed and just made the line for a well scored try. The conversion failed which left Reading 9-17 behind.
Reading’s best moves came in the last five minutes when they desperately strove for a win.
Good phase play put them in a series of good positions on the Witney line, but it wasn’t until the last minute that after strong work by Wills, the ball was moved to Cunningham who forced his way over for an unconverted try.
That proved to be the last play of the game so Witney ran out winners by 14-17.
This was a disappointing result for Reading who once again had their chances to win but were let down by their inability to take advantage of their periods of pressure.
Their best performances came from the front row of Pallett, King and Nicol who excelled.
Reading now have a break over Christmas and return on Saturday, January 6, with a home game against Tottonians.