Home > News > Match Report: Chinnor 37-45 Coventry
Coventry’s power-packed bench provided the second-half impetus which delivered a bonus-point win from a thrilling end-to-end contest at Chinnor
Cov’s ended their first visit to South Oxfordshire as victors by six tries to five and on a day when referee Hamish Grant showed four yellow cards and awarded a penalty try
a crowd of over 2000 was royally entertained at Kingsey Road
Dan Green and Mackenzie Graham scored tries for the visitors while Mr Grant awarded the Blue-and-Whites their third seven-pointer of the season on the stroke of an interval which arrived with an unlikely 24-all scoreline
Luke Carter and Rob Hardwick – son of Cov’s namesake former international prop – gave the hosts an early 24-10 lead before Cameron Rafferty and Kieran Goss claimed the second-half touchdowns that took the home side within a missed touchline conversion of two bonus points
Despite playing with a strong wind Coventry saw very little of the home 22 during an opening half-hour in which they paid on the scoreboard for every mistake made
This trend began in the first minute when Watson finished a 60-metre counter-attack featuring a strong carry from flanker Max Clementson
Cov were quickly on terms when teenage lock Green applied an easy finish to Poole’s charge-down of home no.10 Nathan Chamberlain
Chinnor’s fly-half then slotted a simple penalty and with Tom Ball in the sin bin the home side quickly sent Carter over from close-range for their second try
who finished the match with 13 points through a perfect six-from-six display from the tee
slotted a penalty only for Chinnor to shunt Hardwick over after a series of pick-and-drives
the visitors needed a swift response and they got it when their pack first drove Trinder to the line from a five-metre lineout and were then awarded a penalty try on the stroke of half-time when the sin bin-bound Grant Hughes illegally prevented a repeat performance
By this point Cov prop Billy Nairau and Chinnor centre Watson had both already seen yellow for a high tackle and illegal fend respectively and as a result the visitors began the second-half with a 14-13 numerical advantage
And Alex Rae’s team took full advantage with a bonus-point-clinching try-of-the-season contender launched by Tom Hitchcock under his own posts and extravagantly finished by Poole 90 metres later
After Chamberlain slotted his second penalty of the afternoon
Tiueti’s third try of the season gave the visitors some breathing space for the first time only for Rafferty to bring Chinnor back within one-score range when he touched down a lineout drive
On-loan Bath forward Graham then gave the Cov faithful a glimpse of his pace when
he stepped his way to the home posts for try number six
Despite being denied by some good defence from Charlie Robson it was Chinnor who had the last word through the deserving Goss whose reward for causing plenty of defensive problems throughout the contest was a last-minute score in the corner
Coventry: Trotter (Robson 43); Opoku (Salt 39-43)
Conversions: Mathews (7) (32) (43) (53) (63)
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Bedford Blues failed to deliver the Christmas present they'd have been hoping for as they fell to an 18-5 defeat against Chinnor
Credit to Chinnor who made life difficult for Blues in Oxfordshire and did ultimately deserve the result
struggled to adapt to the most atrotious of conditions
and secodn best in quite a lot of facets of the game.
Michael Le Bourgeois' try showed what they could muster
but those passages of play were too few and far between
inviting too much pressure defensively and ultimately it was always going to pay dividends for Chinnor
Some outstanding performances from players such as Kieran Goss
former Blue Geordie Irvine and Izzy Wharton set the tone and Bedford can have no complaints at falling on the wrong side of the result.
Chinnor took their opportunities and tries from Goss and Alun Walker did the damage
Further points from the boots of Connor Slevin and George Warboys completed proceedings on the scoreboard.
Blues remain third after their first defeat on the road in 24/25 Championship Rugby.
Tom Cruse conceded: “Really disappointing
No lack of effort from the lads but we just didn’t get ourselves on the pitch
we lost the battle at the breakdown and invited too much pressure
"Hopefully off the back of this result
It's a massive game against Cambridge next week and a chance to get back to winning ways
*Matchday Photogrpahy provided by Claire Jones*
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Assistant Referees – Paul Dix & Kevin Williams
We sat down with Joe Gray ahead of our final fixture of 2024.
“By our own admission we’ve not been good enough in the last few weeks. Three games which we felt we could and perhaps should have won have slipped away from us. It’s key we start to turn the corner this weekend and end the year on a high.
We’ve had a great 2024 all round and we need remind ourselves of how far we have come as a group but not get away from the face we need to keep turning performances into results.”
The two sides last met at the RAG back in 2019 in a pre season friendly you can read all about that game below
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Championship Rugby: Chinnor v Cornish Pirates (12/04/2025) BBC Radio Oxford
AudioChampionship Rugby: Chinnor v Cornish Pirates (12/04/2025)
2:00:00Coventry Rugby v Ampthill (12/04/2025) BBC CWR
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Home > News > Match Report: Coventry Rugby 28-14 Chinnor
Inspired by a brace of Charlie Robson tries
Coventry maintained their perfect start to the 2024/25 Championship season by claiming a 28-14 bonus point round four win over first-time rivals Chinnor
But Alex Rae’s team were first pushed all the way by the newly-promoted visitors who created plenty of chances but were only able to convert two of these opportunities into tries
Robson touched down in both halves for the hosts for whom hooker Jordon Poole and the impressive Tom Hitchcock also claimed a try apiece while Liam Richman added four well-struck conversions
Should Cov extend their winning run beyond next week’s testing trip to Caldy
they now know they will enter the Premiership Rugby Cup break not only at the top of the Championship table but also protecting the division’s only unbeaten record
In the opening stages the visitors twice had throws to attacking lineouts deep inside the home 22 but on both occasions turned possession over in the face of some well-organised home defence
It was therefore slightly against the run of play when Hitchcock broke from halfway and after exchanging passes with Jimmy Martin cruised over for a try that Richman converted
Cov then failed to reclaim the restart but Chinnor again lost control at a five-metre attacking lineout after declining a simple kick at goal in favour of the five-point option
And they were quickly punished for their inaccuracy as the hosts kept possession through multiple phases before Richman’s long pass sent Robson over for a superb score
Cov’s Australian no.10 added the extras but their 14-point advantage was short-lived with Chinnor scrum-half Luke Carter dummying over for a try that Connor Slevin converted from their fourth close-range lineout
It was developing into an absorbing contest with little between the sides and when Chinnor again threatened it required an excellent intervention on the ground from Matt Kvesic to halt their momentum
When Martin poached an interception inside his own half he made 30 metres and found Josh Barton in support before the visiting cover quickly ended the opportunity
Slevin’s chip ahead was then superbly gathered by James Bourton but when the ball went wide Chinnor lost it forward deep inside the home 22 in the wide channels
This left Coventry with a seven-point interval advantage and they piled pressure on the Chinnor line immediately after the restart only to spill possession under the visitors’ posts
But the home side did soon have their third score after skipper Poole applied the finishing touch to a well-executed lineout drive to claim a try that Richman again improved with his third well-struck kick of the day
A tremendous piece of last-ditch defence by Robson kept the home line intact when it seemed inevitable that Kieran Goss would score and the visitors’ left winger was quickly denied for a second time by Hitchcock’s timely defensive intervention
Cov could have sealed the game with 15 minutes remaining when David Opoku pinched an interception only for Fin Ogden to be unable to hold his offload with the line beckoning
But the young replacement scrum-half quickly made amends by identifying space behind the Chinnor backs and landing a perfectly-weighted kick that Robson gathered and took under the posts for a score that Richman upgraded
Chinnor again went close through Morgan Passman who was upended close to the home line by Opoku but they continued to apply pressure and eventually had the last word by working the big centre into the corner for a try that Slevin improved
Hardwick (Hoyt 54); Brockschmidt (North 45)
Rams Returning Students Pictures: Tim Pitfield
RAMS’ Returning Students put in a gutsy display during a 19-10 home defeat to Chinnor
it was the away side who took an early lead
exploiting the short side for speedy wing Tom Wilson to race down the left from halfway
He touched down under the posts for a try added to by Ed Bailey
and it was Chinnor who continued to dominate both possession and territory during the opening half-hour
resolute Rams refused to yield and three goal-line turnover penalties helped them keep their heads above water
they started to show more attacking intent as the half came to a close
Tom David’s ambitious long-range drop-goal attempt drifting wide
As the lights began to take effect at the start of the second period
picking up their first points as a sublime Ant Jessett pass sent Alfie Jeanes over in Clubhouse Corner
David’s conversion shot drifted left of the uprights
and Chinnor extended their advantage at the end of the third quarter
Again their opponents were forced to defend phase after phase
and eventually the pressure told as replacement JJ Cundy blasted over from close range
Rams were close to replying as David grabbed hold of an overthrown line-out before being held up across the whitewash
Chinnor then reduced to 14 following a yellow card for a high tackle
Yet it was the Thame men who struck the fatal blow with around eight minutes remaining
hooker Ryan Bayliss making a brilliant read to snatch an interception and race away for a converted score from 60 metres out
Rams continued to battle and were again held up
but they gained a deserved second try with the final play of the contest
Colt Dan Sawyer riding a powerful maul over the line
end their National One season at Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday (3pm)
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Check out this belter from Roma Zheng from last week’s game against Chinnor
A stunning offload from Ioan Rhys Davies sets the winger free for a cracking try
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Bedford Blues will be looking to go into Christmas with a seventh Championship victory in nine games as they travel to Oxfordshire to face the Championship’s newest team in Chinnor for the first time ever on Saturday (21 December)
Keeping pace with the summit is the priority heading into 2025
and this fixture is paramount in doing so as the division’s top two
Ealing Trailfinders and Coventry face each other at the Butts Park Arena
Bedford Blues will have had just six days to recover and prepare after another last-gasp victory at London Scottish last Sunday (15 December) meant they kept third place in the Championship
Read: Bedford Blues pull a win out of the fire in dramatic London Scottish clash
but Chinnor have more than held their own in this division so far with victories against Caldy
although the latter was assisted by a 68th minute abandonment due to a floodlight failure at Kingsey Road
Both sides will hope a full eighty minutes transpires this time
as Chinnor look to progress from their starting position of 8th in the Championship
while Mike Rayer will hope come 5pm on Saturday
his side will have closed the gap on one of the top two
With Cambridge to come next Saturday (28 December) at what will be a raucously festive Goldington Road
Bedford Blues have an excellent chance of rounding off 2024 with two more victories in a very solid first half of this Championship campaign
Mike Rayer has made ten changes to the squad that beat Scottish at the Richmond Athletic Ground last time out
The most notable returnee is Alex Woolford who slots into the second row after a long injury absence in order to make his 50th appearance for Bedford Blues
It’s also all change in the half back pairing with an all-new nine and ten
former Bedford School student turned Northampton Saints academy graduate
makes his first start in the number nine jersey alongside George Makepeace-Cubitt who starts at fly half
despite making all of his appearances at full back so far
Louis James and the effervescent Dean Adamson also return at full back and on the left wing respectively
You can still buy your tickets for the Blues trip to Chinnor here
but unfortunately the Followers Association coach is sold out
Tickets are also available for the Blues’ clash with Cambridge at Goldington Road next Saturday 28 December
and if past festive games are anything to go by
You can purchase your tickets for that encounter here
London Scottish have named their matchday squad for the final game of 2024 and the visit of newly promoted but flying high Chinnor
Making six changes to the side that lost to Caldy last week
Joe Gray and Bryan Redpath have opted to mix things up looking to find that winning formula
Harry Browne returns to the side in the second row after a stint in the 1st XV at Harlequins
Bailey Ransom also drops to the bench with Ioan Rhys Davies taking his place in the back row
In the absence of Ransom leading from the off Will Trenholm and Cam Anderson will co-captain the side for the first time in their careers
In the back Bryn Bradley makes his first appearances for the Exiles this season at inside centre
On the bench Robbie McCallum and Will Brown both return in place of Tom Wilstead and Hayden Hyde
The final change comes with George Head slotting onto the bench in place of Calum Scott
You can get your tickets for this match at the RAG here
Home > News > Quartet of fresh faces boost Cov’s Chinnor prospects
Coventry’s squad has been boosted by a couple of new arrivals and the return of two familiar faces ahead of Saturday’s trip to Oxfordshire to face Championship new boys Chinnor
With back five forwards Matt Kvesic and Obinna Nkwocha still sidelined and Senitiki Nayalo’s annual involvement in the British Army’s inter-services campaign drawing closer
head coach Alex Rae has turned to Premiership leaders Bath for support in the form of 21-year-old academy forward Mackenzie Graham
Cov’s three-quarter line could also include Glasgow’s Logan Trotter who last month arrived at the Butts Park Arena on loan from the URC outfit
A minor hamstring strain suffered in training prevented the 27-year-old from making his Cov debut during last weekend’s win over Cambridge but he is now back in contention to face Chinnor
Stirling County product Trotter who has Scotland Sevens squad experience moved back to the Warriors following the collapse of London Irish in 2023
Two familiar faces who missed last weekend’s win over the Championship’s basement club are also in contention to make Saturday’s trip down the M40
Winger Jimmy Martin who has 45 tries from 83 Cov appearances has returned to training from a spell of paternity leave while on-loan Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Sam Maunder has recovered from illness to compete for a sixth appearance in Cov’s no.9 shirt
Ahead of Saturday’s first visit to Chinnor’s Kingsey Road home the Blue-and-Whites prepared by moving Thursday’s training session to Broadstreet’s grass pitches
According to head coach Alex Rae this will simulate the conditions they will face in their round 14 Championship clash with opponents who already this season have beaten Bedford
“It’s good sometimes to change your day-to-day routine as a change of scenery helps keep you mentally fresh,” Rae said
“We’re also playing on grass at Chinnor and it is good to give the boys a run-out on the same surface although in all honesty I don’t pay much attention to people who make a big thing about that
“We train on a fast surface at the Butts all year round so in the middle of winter when it’s a bit muddy on grass it might feel different but at this time of year on a firm pitch it doesn’t
“We’re expecting a really tough game this weekend as they have done really well at home this season
They are a really physical team who are well coached by Nick Easter and they are also really well supported
“No doubt they’ll be talking about taking the scalp of one of the teams towards the top of the table this week – we’re expecting them to come out of the blocks at 100 miles per hour and have a good go at us and that’s what we’ve prepared for.”
Match tickets for Cov’s next home game against Caldy on Saturday April 5th can be purchased at https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/matchday-tickets/
Chinnor claimed their biggest Championship scalp to date in earning their fourth league win of the season against a lacklustre Bedford Blues at a very windy and muddy Kingsey Road
in what were squalid Oxfordshire conditions
lifts Chinnor to 7th in their debut Championship season while Bedford Blues are now looking over their shoulders in third
both teams began life trying to adjust to the conditions although Chinnor were the quickest off the line as they forced territory in the early exchanges
it took almost half an hour for the scoreboard to be troubled in an attritional affair as Kieran Goss crossed in the corner to give the home side a valuable lead
Despite Dean Adamson attempting his trademark chip and run late on in the first half
the scoreboard remained at 7-0 heading into the break
with the Blues once again needing to mount a comeback
That comeback would never materialise as the ugly game continued into the second half
with Chinnor extending their lead with a second try ten minutes into the second half courtesy of Alun Walker
Nothing Bedford Blues were trying worked in what was an immensely frustrating afternoon
ending covered in mud and without anything to show for it
A pair of penalties from George Worboys took Chinnor 18-0 clear and the Blues were risking coming away with no points until a late Michael Le Bourgeois consolation try at least got Bedford on the board with the final play
It capped a dismal afternoon for Mike Rayer’s side
who are now just one point clear of Hartpury in fourth
“It was obviously really disappointing”
“We struggled to get any momentum; the majority of the first half was played in our territory and when we look back at the game
we fundamentally lost the battle of the breakdown
“It invited Chinnor on to us quite a bit
and they capitalised and scored a couple of good tries.”
There are certain areas around managing the game early on we can look at
It’s not a case of ripping up the book and starting from scratch
“We’ll learn from it and we’ve got a big game next weekend against Cambridge back at Goldington Road.”
the division’s big game between the top two went the way of Ealing Trailfinders who are now eight points clear at the top of the Championship with a 35-25 victory at Coventry
Hartpury kept up the pace on the Blues with a 21-7 win against Nottingham
while there were rare victories for Cambridge
and Caldy who have finally put a win on the board with a 20-10 triumph over London Scottish
Cornish Pirates host Doncaster Knights on Sunday (22 December)
Bedford Blues return to Goldington Road next Saturday 28 December to host Cambridge in their annual festive clash
Mike Rayer will be hoping to return his side to winning ways and hold on to third spot in the Championship
Winger scores four tries in the opening half as Cornishmen hold on for hard-fought victory
THE Cornish Pirates maintained their push for a top four finish in this season’s Championship with a hard-fought 33-31 victory away to Chinnor.
Matt McNab led the way for the visitors on their first-ever visit to Kingsey Road, the powerhouse winger helping himself to four tries, while Dan Hiscocks also stole over to ensure the bonus point was wrapped up by half time.
However, Chinnor - who had claimed first half scores through Alun Walker and Nick Smith - produced a powerful last quarter to the match, hauling themselves back to within touching distance thanks to efforts from Callum Pascoe and Cam Rafferty (2).
Thankfully, the Pirates were able to hold for their ninth league win of the season, a result which pleased joint head coach Gavin Cattle come the final whistle.
“There was some exceptional stuff in the first and we took our tries well,” said Cattle. “The second half I don’t know what happened. I don’t think we tried to shut up shop, I just think Chinnor had a bit of deserved pressure.
“The disappointing thing for us was our penalty count - I think we were doing really well in defensive sets, but the decision-making in and around the breakdown is going to be a work-on for us this week.
“That said, it was a good league win for us, our first on the road since Ampthill at the end of December.”
With conditions ideal in the Oxfordshire sunshine, it was the Pirates who started quickly, scrum-half Hiscocks opening their account inside five minutes when from a line-out, he dummied to good effect before scooting his way over for the score, which was converted by Bruce Houston.
Chinnor’s response, though, was swift and in their first meaningful attack, they levelled the game up when hooker Walker went over for their opening try, converted by the boot of Connor Slevin.
What followed shortly after, however, was a devastating spell of finishing from McNab, who secured the try bonus with a hat-trick in the space of seven minutes. A deft kick from Hiscocks created his opener and he added a second when space opened up for him straight from the restart.
Not done there, he grabbed his third of the afternoon when he tore through the home defence to touchdown one-handed for an unconverted score.
Chinnor grabbed a much-needed counter score through Kiwi full-back Smith, who spotted a gap in the Pirates defence, before McNab was on song once more, this time showing a turn of speed to latch onto a hack up field from Alex Everett to make it 33-12 at the turn.
It may have been a healthy lead for the Pirates, but it was the home side who roared back after the break, Pascoe breaking clear to claim a converted score, before replacement Rafferty grabbed a late brace.
In the end, the Pirates were able to hold firm and seal their success. Now, it’s onto this Saturday and the visit of lowly Caldy to the Mennaye Field (2.30pm)
Pirates: Arthur Relton; Robin Wedlake, Charlie McCaig (Harry Yates 57), Chester Ribbons, Matt McNab; Bruce Houston (Iwan Jenkins 67), Dan Hiscocks (Will Becconsall 60); Billy Young (Ben Woodmansey 80), Harry Hocking (Dylan Irvine 79), Jay Tyack (James French 52); Charlie Rice (Alfie Bell 62), Josh King; Matt Cannon, Fintan Coleman (Tomi Agbongbon 24), Alex Everett (capt).
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National League Rugby are delighted to announce we will be live streaming Rams RFC against Chinnor on Friday 18th March
We had hoped to live stream this National One derby day fixture before Christmas
after positive conversations over the last month or so
we are really pleased to be able to relaunch this idea
With the match also being broadcast ahead of the final round of the Six Nations
this is the perfect way to kick-start a huge weekend of rugby
This initiative is once again being powered by NextGenXV, who are experts in the field of live streaming and they currently lead the way when it comes to covering Schools Rugby
they are keen to break new ground and the match will also be shown across their own website and social media platforms
The support from NextGenXV, Rams RFC – in particular CEO Gary Reynolds – Chinnor and Talking Rugby Union has helped us turn this idea into a reality and we are keen to continue increasing the profile of National League Rugby
The buzz which has been generated by The National League Rugby Review Show has also accelerated the process of taking our coverage to the next level and with so much still left to play for in National One
we feel it is an ideal time for us to showcase our leagues even further
don’t forget the National League Rugby Review Show continues this weekend with Round 24’s edition
Subscribe now for £6 access for the rest of the season!
Additional details about the coverage will be announced in due course on National League Rugby’s social media channels
Email: ncasecretary@outlook.com
Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues prepare for a historic first ever meeting with Chinnor tomorrow afternoon
in the club’s final game before Christmas (KO 3pm)
Still chance to join us at Kingsey Road; buy tickets for the clash here.
It’s rare to find teams who haven’t faced off against each other with nearly 200 years’ worth of combined history and heritage
albeit quite a few examples of players to have worn born shirts in recent times
With a shorter turnaround having only played London Scottish last Sunday
Rayer has elected to shuffle the deck somewhat with 10 changes in total for this the second of successive away matches
Having made a return off the bench last weekend for his first competitive minutes of the campaign
Alex Woolford is this time chosen to start in the engine room for his 50th club appearance
Cameron King is another to come into the forwards pack
his first start since the opening day of the league season
again following a late cameo last time out
There is a new half-back partnership as Jonny Weimann and George Makepeace-Cubitt make inaugural Blues starts
while Louis James and Dean Adamson are both back from recent injury absences
Home > News > Cov Finish Pre-Season in Seven-Try Heaven
A powerful first-half display which produced five tries for their forwards paved the way for Coventry’s 45-17 win over newly-promoted Chinnor
Alex Rae’s team badly disrupted the visitors’ lineout and with their own set-pieces operating smoothly Cov dominated the majority of the opening 40 minutes
A raft of changes from both clubs saw a more evenly-balanced second period in which Chinnor scored three tries before the hosts responded with two late long-distance scores
But it was Cov who finished comfortably on top against opponents who return to the BPA next month in the Championship’s fourth round of action
After a cagey opening 15 minutes played largely between the two 22-metre lines Coventry broke the deadlock by driving lock Rhys Anstey over from an attacking lineout for a try that Theo Mannion converted
And the hosts soon doubled their advantage when Tom Ball popped up in support of a powerful Vili Nairau carry to dive over for their second try
Chinnor’s first opportunity came to nothing when they kicked a penalty dead from just outside the home 22
Home full back Steff Davies was then narrowly unable to hold on to a Jimmy Martin offload with the line beckoning
It was finished by the impressive Nairau who snapped up a loose ball at the tail of Chinnor’s defensive lineout and powered over for a score that Mannion improved
A brilliant long Oli Morris pass then released Martin down the left only for the visitors’ cover defence to intervene
But the Blue-and-Whites did soon have a fourth try created by Josh Barton’s quick tap and finished by the supporting Matt Kvesic
And they went into the break with a 31-point advantage after hooker Suva Ma’asi made it five for the forwards by applying the finishing touch to a lineout drive
By the 58th minute only Mannion remained of Cov’s starting line-up as Alex Rae rang the changes and with the visitors also making a number of changes the match took on a new context
Former Moseley hooker Will Cave was among the new arrivals and he opened Chinnor’s account by applying the finishing touch to a well-worked lineout drive
And the visitors almost immediately added a second score following a neat midfield switch and powerful burst from centre Epi Rokodrava
After Nick Smith added the conversion a good kick chase won Cov a five-metre attacking scrum from which an opportunity was lost when the ball went forward at the base
Fin Ogden then picked off an interception inside his own 22 and raced 70 metres only to be caught by a superb piece of defensive corner-flagging
And replacement full back Charlie Robson was then denied by a touch flag as he pursued Tom Hitchcock’s delicate chip ahead
Chinnor closed the gap to 14 points with five minutes remaining when Cov turned possession over running from their own 22 and replacement second row Cam Rafferty gathered the loose ball and charged to the corner
But it was Cov that had the last word through the score of the night which was finished by the pacy David Opoku who was released by Robson after a neat Aaron Hinckley offload
Cov’s second-half no.15 also added the extras with a well-struck left-footed kick and he almost immediately split the uprights for a second time after Will Lane rounded off Cov’s pre-season by getting on Chester Owen’s shoulder to go under the posts for the home side’s seventh try
Half-Time: Coventry Rugby 31-0 Chinnor
Ealing Trailfinders come out on top 8-28 in a tough battle against Chinnor in Round 11 of the Championship on Friday (17 January 2025)
Ben Harris and a brace from Tobi Wilson secured five points for the visitors
Trailfinders sit 17 points clear at the top of the Championship with five Round 11 matches still to play this weekend
Chinnor started the brighter of the two sides
much to the pleasure of a packed out Kingsley Road
Nick Smith stepped up from 40 metres to give the home side an early lead
Trailfinders’ captain lead from the front to score the visitors’ first of the evening
Willemse found his way to the whitewash at the back of a dominant rolling maul
The rest of the first-half was one way traffic
it was Wilson who scored his first under the lights
Craig Willis called for the ball out the back
got his hands free in the tackle and Wilson raced to the line
Ealing Trailfinders once again found themselves inside the opposition 22
This time Ben Harris spotted a gap and sprinted towards the line to extend the Londoners lead which rounded off a dominant first-half display
Half-time: Chinnor 3-21 Ealing Trailfinders
Despite the hosts starting well in the second 40
they struggled to break down the Trailfinders defence
It was a scrappy third quarter of the game
with neither team able to build any momentum
Wilson changed that to secure the bonus point for Ben Ward’s men
The fullback found space down the lefthand side and weaved through Chinnor bodies to score his second
Willis made it four from four off tee and maintained his 100% record to stretch the lead
The hosts never dropped out of the fight and scored their first try at the death
the ball was moved out wide and Callum Pascoe went over untouched
A hard fought victory on the road leaves Ealing Trailfinders in a secure position at the top of the Championship table
Full-time: Chinnor 8-28 Ealing Trailfinders
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London Scottish ended 2024 on a high after a difficult few weeks they turned their fortunes around in a dominant display against a strong Chinnor side who have taken to Championship rugby like a duck to water
stealing lots of line out ball and putting pressure on the visitors
they could not turn said pressure into points
Chinnor got the first score of the game through a Connor Slevin penalty
This was quickly cancelled out by a Tom Wilstead effort on the 20 minute mark
London Scottish continued to have the ascendency in possession and territory and eventually after a lovely offload found Roma Zheng who dived in the corner to take the score to 8-3 at half time
After the break Scottish kept the pressure up and Scored another try through their flying Winger who dotted down to extend the lead
Two Wilstead penalties would then sandwich a Chinnor try keeping the gap manageable
Scottish would then kill off the game in the 69th minute as George Head found the line after a 15-man driving maul rumbled forwards
Chinnor found a consolation try in the final minutes of the game but did not have enough to get themselves back in the match
A much needed win for London Scottish as they look up the table going into the New Year
A much improved and measured display proved fruitful as they now go into a few week’s break after New Year’s
Home > News > Matchday Programme | Chinnor RFC
Coventry Rugby’s digital programme for the home opening RFU Championship fixture vs Chinnor RFC
Supporters can access the programme by clicking here
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