Despite a very spirited performance, Chinnor 2nds proved too strong for the Greyhound in the Oxfordshire County Cup Final at Iffley Road on Sunday afternoon winning by 27 points to 9 to extend their unbeaten run to 23 matches. With conditions nigh on perfect for running attacking rugby both sides committed to that style of rugby and the large vocal crowd were treated to some end to end exciting rugby. Chinnor came out of the blocks fast and were 7 points ahead after just two minutes with a converted try and the Hounds looked shell-shocked. However, despite a lack of real preparation due to the Easter vacation the Greyhound rallied and fought their way back into the game and were rewarded with two successful penalties from fly-half Dylan Jones (Oriel). Chinnor had a big tight five and tried to pressure the Greyhounds at scrum, but the younger and smaller students were not intimidated and stood up to this onslaught manfully. The score was 7 – 6 in favour of Chinnor at the break. The start of the second half was almost a carbon copy of the first when Chinnor scored a converted try early to extend their lead to 14 – 6 before Jones added a third penalty to close the gap to just five points. However, Chinnor then extended the lead again with another try, this time unconverted before the Houd shad a spell of pressure which saw second row Sam Hitching (Exeter) make a stunning break only to be held up over the line. Despite securing possession from the scrum the Greyhounds could not cross the line due to strong defence and the moment passed and without any realistic chance of victory for the students. The final 10 minutes was all Chinnor and they added a further try and penalty to make the final score 27 point to 9. Chinnor No 8 Ed Vickers was awarded the Ron Grimshaw Trophy as Man of the Match. To read Michael Knox’s Oxford Mail report, please use the link below:
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/rugby/10372016.RUGBY_UNION__Chinnor_cap_perfect_season_with_Oxon_Cup/

Team Joe Mason, James Wisson, Matt Powell, Tom Reeson-Price, Matt Craggs, Sam Perrin, William Fell, Michael Rickner, Samson Egerton, Dylan Jones, Sam Wareham, Marcus Alexander Neil, Philip Bell, Oakley Cox, Sean Morris

Subs Daniel Barnes (on for James Wisson), John Nickerson (on for Joe Mason), Sam Hitchings (on for Matt Craggs), Richard Russell (on for Tom Reeson-Price), Hugo Batten (on for Sam Wareham)

Scores  P: Dylan Jones (3)

Later that evening the University U20’s took on Oxfordshire U20’s in the semi-final of the U20’s National Shield Competition with a place in the final on Sunday 5th May at stake. Having won the group match back in November it was Oxfordshire who stared strongly and were son 6 poi t ahead with two penalties form fly-half Will Millett. However, at the break the University were ahead 120 point to 6 with try form fly-half Will Boardman (New) converted by scrum-half Matt Shorthose (University) who also added a penalty. Te students extended their lead after the interval with a great solo effort from centre Henry Hughes (Magdalen) who showed pace and power to score out wide. However, the last 15 minutes belonged to Oxfordshire as the students started to tire and lose players to injury and they scored 22 unanswered points with trys from centre Leo Fielding, prop Peter Moore and flanker Jack Horwood, with Millett adding two conversions and one penalty to make the final score 28 point to 15. Oxfordshire will play Eastern Counties who beaten Cambridge University in the final at Coventry.