DMPRFC exacted sweet revenge for the last minute home defeat suffered in the first meeting of these two teams, with a strong, physical display at Chinnor RFC’s HQ.

In a full blooded and entertaining encounter, both were evenly matched throughout, as was the case back in the reverse fixture at the Northern Echo Arena.

DMPRFC initially started strong, on the attack from the start, but a long pass found Chinnor’s wing Matthew HODSON, who won the foot race to the line for a score against the run of play after only two minutes, (5 – 0), home fly half Jonathan HOPKIN converting. (7 – 0)

The visitors were dealt a blow early doors when centre Ben FRANKLAND had to leave the field, with Garry LAW entering the field of play much sooner that he than he'd thought.

Back on the attack from the restart, it wasn’t long before DMPRFC responded, visiting full back Chris McTURK rounded the home defence for the touchdown, (7 – 5), Warren SEALS just missing with the conversion.

Chinnor themselves were soon to retake the lead, when No. 8 Benjamin MANNING crashed over, (12 – 5), with HOPKIN again converting. (14 – 5)

At this stage, DMPRFC began to exert their dominance with some forceful carries from flanker George STOKES, props Talite VAIOLETI and Alfie BARRON, as well as flanker Matt HEATON and No. 8 Ollie HODGSON. As the pressure began to mount, lock Jake BRADY sniped through the home defence to score (14 – 10), SEALS converting. (14 – 12)

DMPRFC continued to starve the home side from any meaningful possession and it was no surprise when a desperate kick out of defence was charged down by Warren SEALS, who re-gathered well to score under the posts and remain composed to add the afters himself. (14 – 19)

Chinnor lock Benjamin THOMAS took a knock on twenty-eight minutes and had to be replaced, with Max NOREY taking to the field.

DMPRFC were now in the ascendancy, but despite some promising attacks, they were unable to add to their tally before the break for oranges.

From the start of the second half, DMPRFC picked up where they had left off and within two minutes the hard work of prop VAIOLETI was rewarded with the bonus point try, edging the visitors further ahead. (14 – 24)

The score was moved along again by the visitors, when winger Oliver WALKER scythed through the home defence for DMPRFC’s fifth try of the game, (14 – 29), SEALS converting (14 – 31) with Chinnor players looking somewhat dazed and demoralised.

However, Chinnor were not finished and rallied, especially when on fifty-eight mintues, DMPRFC skipper Matt HEATON was sin-binned for not allowing the home side to take a quick tap penalty.

This reduction in DMPRFC’s numbers seemed to spur on the home side, who then took the game to DMPRFC, who began to struggle from their previous exertions, despite the introduction from the bench of replacement forwards Dave FISHER and Simon UZOKWE.

Home replacement Matt HOLLAND started the fightback for the home side, when despite more than a hint of a forward pass in the build up, the try from him was allowed, to edge Chinnor closer to the DMPRFC total. (19 – 31)

With the game entering the final ten minutes, Chinnor scored again, when wing Joshua HODSON crossed (24 – 31) and with the successful conversion from HOPKIN (26 – 31), Chinnor were within touching distance with seven minutes remaining.

DMPRFC were in full defensive mode, as Chinnor piled on the pressure and were certainly relived when a catch and drive lineout failed and the referee’s whistle heralded the end of the game, with DMPRFC just about deserving the win and the five league points, Chinnor thankful of the two points in defeat.

CHINNOR RFC SQUAD

15. Kieran GOSS (HOADLEY, 70), 14. Reon JOSEPH, 13. Alexander DANCER (HOLLAND, 50), 11. Joshua HODSON (GOSS, 72), 10. Jonathan HOPKIN, 9. Edward HOADLEY (GOODFELLOW, 50), 1. Ricardo CANO (SOUTHWORTH, 60), 2. George OLIVER, 3. Jack GILDING (BETTS, 45), 4. Benjamin THOMAS (NOREY, 28), 5. Cameron GRAY (GILDING, 79), 6. Joseph DANCER, 7. Joe WALLACE (THOMAS, 40), 8. Benjamin MANNING.
Replacements: All Used

SCORING:
Try: HODSON (2, 73), MANNING (10),HOLLANS (67)
Conversion: HOPKIN (3, 11, 73)
Penalty: None
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: None
Yellow Card: None

DMPRFC
15. Chris McTURK, 14. Oliver WALKER (HAMILTON, 62), 13. Thomas BULLOUGH, 12. Benjamin FRANKLAND (Garry LAW, 4), 11. Callum MACKENZIE, 10. Warren SEALS, 9. Matt DUDMAN, 1. Alfie BARRON, 2. Jordan POOLE, 3. Talite VAIOLETI, 4. Jacob BRADY (Dave FISHER, 58), 5. Joseph CRAGGS, 6. George STOKES (Simon UZOKWE, 58), 7. Matthew HEATON, 8. Oliver HODGSON.

Replacements: Daniel BROWN (Not Used)

SCORING:
Try: McTURK (7), BRADY (15), SEALS (28), VAIOLETI (42), WALKER (46)
Conversion: SEALS (16, 29, 47)
Penalty: None
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: None
Yellow Card: Matthew HEATON (DMPRFC)(58)

Referee: Mr Nick WOOD
Assistant Referee: Mr Stephen HAMBLEY, Mr James DAVIES
Attendance:
Player of the Match: Warren SEALS (DMPRFC)

NEXT WEEK – SALE FC (A)