Defence to the fore as Titans are suffocated
IF defences win championships then Chinnor are going to take some stopping this season after they held on to their unbeaten record in a tight and tense win against promotion rivals Taunton Titans.
With rain pouring down, this was not a game for the feint-hearted as both sides went for brute strength over fancy footwork and Taunton could not quite live with their hosts.
This win keeps them two points clear of Cinderford at the top of the pile while Taunton now fall nine points further back in a result which may have knocked a three-horse race for the title down to two.
Chinnor director of rugby Matt Williams said: “It was a day of superb defence against a welldrilled Taunton attack. Our defence was attritional and brutal. All credit to Taunton.”
That summed it up with Chinnor forced to defend for much of the match following a fast start.
They scored after just two minutes when a welljudged kick ahead by Jonny Bentley found Phil Chesters. It was the one moment of magic produced in the whole game and Chesters took full advantage, dotting down to send the home crowd wild.
Chinnor kept their foot on Taunton’s throat and extended their lead shortly after as Bentley nailed a penalty after the visitors were caught offside.
The intensity of Chinnor’s work at the breakdown was just too much for Taunton to handle in the early stages.
Fortunately for the away side, they quickly got a grip of the proceedings by controlling possession and territory.
However, Chinnor stood tall when it mattered and
continually repelled Taunton when they neared the 22.
The home side have not been used to having their backs pressed against the wall but they coped admirably – a positive sign as winter rolls in.
And that resilience was rewarded in the second half when Chinnor stole a Taunton lineout, and some slick handling from the backs saw Jamel Hamilton cross in the corner.
Bentley missed the conversion but that barely mattered come the end of the match.
Taunton stuck to their task admirably, banging on the door and seeking a way through but Chinnor’s defence held out.
Ten minutes from time they finally found joy as James Kenny scored in the corner before an excellent conversion from centre Toby East meant that one more try would win it. But Chinnor had just enough to win for the 12th time.
“There were two good teams and no quarter given,” said Taunton head coach Tony Yapp.
“We are disappointed that at the start we gave the opposition an opportunity which they took. We are pleased with the second half and how we fought back into the match. It was a superb game.”