Chinnor needed to bounce back after their reverse last week and they did so with some free-flowing rugby against Clifton as CJ Osazuwa notched a hat-trick of tries. In so doing, Chinnor passed 500 points scored for the season.
The initial exchanges were very much in Clifton's favour where they dominated play straight from the kick off and duly opened the scoring. Chinnor did not get their hands on the ball for the first five minutes and it was no surprise when Ian Clarke went over following a powerful run by former Chinnor No.8 Alfie To'oala.
The hosts got back into the game when Kieran Goss finished a flowing move to score out wide - then Chinnor sprang into action.
Osazuwa scored under the posts before Chinnor capitalised on Dave Wheeler’s yellow card with three quick scores from Henry Lamont, Osazuwa’s second of the afternoon and Danny Barnes. Bertie Hopkin converted two of the tries before Chinnor captain Bevon Armitage went over following a break down by the Clifton centres allowing him to run 50 yards and score under the posts. A Bertie Hopkin penalty on the stroke of half-time gave Chinnor a healthy 34-5 lead.
Clifton once again started positively keeping possession for the first eight minutes of the second half. However they could not convert their possession into points and paid the penalty when against the run of play, a kick ahead by Chinnor allowed Bertie Hopkin to go over for a simple try.
Clifton were not to be totally denied when centre Sam Harrison scored a try following a clean break through the middle. But Chinnor came straight back with further tries from the battering ram Callum Wilson, Steve Castle and a third for CJ Osazuwa completing his hat-trick.
Alfie To'oala scored Clifton’s final try, reward for their total endeavour throughout the game.
Chinnor will continue their title challenge away at high-flying Bishop’s Stortford next week.
Teams
Chinnor
Kieran Goss, Callum Wilson, Danny Barnes, Bevon Armitage ©, Henry Lamont, Bertie Hopkin, Greg Goodfellow, Ricky Cano, Jon Phipps, Jay Tyack, Ross Parkins, CJ Osazuwa, Richard Thorpe, Alex Waddingham, Tom Burns
Interchanges: Andy Berry, Jamie Townsend, Tom Price, Sam Miller, Steve Castle
Clifton
Ian Clark, Will Pomphrey, Jack Walters, Sam Harrison, Malcolm Peacock, Bradley Barnes, George Thomas, Charles Bullimore, Dave Wheeler, Alex Giltrow, John Hawkins, Andrew Cannock, Max Woodward, Mike Luxton, Alfie To'oala
Interchanges: Jack Williams, Elliot Booley, Andy Chesters, Mike Uren, Jack Pinker
Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Osazuwa 12, 23, 74, Lamont 25, Barnes 30, Armitage 33, Hopkin 47, Wilson 58, Castle 77
Conversions (time): Hopkin 24, 25, 34, 59, 75
Penalty Goals (time): Hopkin 40
Clifton
Tries (time): Clark 4, Harrison 50, To'oala 66
Conversions (time): Barnes 51
Penalty Goals (time):
Referee: Alexander Thomas
Attendance: 380
Half time score: 34-5
Full time score: 58-17
Star man: CJ Osazuwa
