29th January 2025
Chinnor 19 Ampthill 32
In a curate's egg of a performance a valiant second half fight back was not enough for Chinnor to take victory in another pulsating encounter at Kingsey Road. Chinnor shot themselves in the foot after a bright start and gave away 2 interception tries and 14 unanswered points in the space of 5 minutes to put themselves really under the pump. A superb third quarter put the match right back in the melting pot and when Chinnor again surged to the line when 19-24 down there seemed to be only one winner. Unfortunately a lack of composure in the red zone meant the go ahead scoring chance was squandered and Ampthill managed to close out the victory.
Chinnor looked bright in the opening stanza after a Josh Barton penalty had given the visitors a 0-3 lead. With Chinnor's backs looking dangerous after a few early breaks they eventually scored when Slevin cut through and linked superbly with Crowley and Watson, who scored unopposed/ Worboys converted to 7-3. Ampthill immediately struck back after some Chinnor indiscipline gave them a lineout 5 metres out, which they drove over to seemingly score. The referee adjudged the maul was illegally taken down and awarded a Penalty Try and a harsh yellow card to Dugmore.
Even with the reduced number Chinnor looked the more dominant and threatening team but it was during the next 5 minutes that gave Chinnor a mountain to climb. Firstly Ampthill 9 Morgan , who enjoyed a very impressive match intercepted an Izzy Wharton pass to scoot away and score under the posts. This was followed by a Va'enuku intercept from Worboys which turned a 3 on 1 to Chinnor to another 7 points for the visitors, 7-24.
Chinnor reacted from this double set back really well and were denied a crucial score on the stroke of half time when the maul was disrupted 2 metres from Ampthill line.
A high energy Chinnor came roaring out of the gates in the second half urged on by replacement Willie Ryan, who was immediately into the action with several characteristic surging carries which took play deep into the 22. Quick ball was released and Worboys looped round the centres to narrow the gap on 45 minutes, 12-24.
Chinnor kept the momentum with plentiful ball from a well functioning lineout. Slevin kicked deep from a penalty and the driving maul crashed over the line with Stokesy in the vanguard. A superb Worboys conversion made it a one score game, 19-24.
Chinnor then had their golden chance to take the lead after great work from Dugmore, Hughes and Hall took them to a a metre from the line, unfortunately a wayward pass was knocked on and the chance was spurned.
Ampthill defended well and stuck to their simple but very effective gameplan. Both half backs kicked with accuracy and skill and this was backed up with a good kick chase. The visitors looked to prey on Chinnor's mistakes and a tendency to overplay which led to several strips and knock ons from ambitious offloads. The visitors kept in the fight and with more efficiency took their only chance of the half on 78 minutes when a Barton penalty but the game beyond one score, 19-27. Chinnor were desperate to score again to grab 2 deserved bonus points but an over throw in the attacking lineout saw Cullen race away to score and give the visitors the icing on the cake of a 5 point win, 19-32.
Nick Easter commented " A disappointing performance and result for us today. We can't be gifting sides of this quality so may points head start. I was really pleased how we fought back but again we need to be more efficient in the redzone and put the game to bed when we had the chance. Their half backs managed the game well and kept us at arms length in the final 10 minutes.”
Chinnor - Slevin, Crowley, Watson, Hughes (C), Goss, Worboys, Carter, Wharton, Stokes, Dugmore, Green, Hall, Hardwick, Walker, Lines
Replacements- Chilvers, Porter, Cave, North, Ryan, Rafferty, Pascoe, Rokodrava
Photo - Simon Cooper
