| ChinnorWinner |
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| Joined: 20 Mar 2006 |
| Posts: 42 |
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And it came to pass…
And on the seventh day it came to pass that justice was done. And we saw that it was done. And we saw that it was good. Bloody good. In fact, it was absolutely fantastic. Bicester 13, Chinnor 17. Final league positions; Chinnor second, Bicester third. Carpe deum - live for today and seize the moment, because it doesn’t come much better than this.
This was a cup tie in all but name; a winner-takes-all match in which testosterone levels broke all records, handbags were thrown, yellow cards abounded and touchline blood pressure threatened to challenge the resources of the St John’s Ambulance brigade. It was tense. The referee was always wrong of course – whichever side you were following. The lead changed hands with every single score and either side could have won with the last throw of the dice. But Bicester didn’t and Chinnor did.
Chinnor started well, but conceded a succession of penalties to keep them on the back foot. Bicester opened the scoring with a controlled driving and turning maul from close quarters. It was a tactic that served them well repeatedly. Tom Webb and his Bicester pal took an enforced ten minute break for playing without the ball. George White took a trip to the local medical centre to check out a head injury. Chinnor claimed the lead with a brilliant try by raging prop Andy Berry who appeared on the wing to collect a superb kick by Jack Green. A penalty conceded for offside gave Bicester a one point advantage at the break. It was breathless.
When hostilities restarted, Jack Green knocked over a penalty only for Bicester to score their second forwards’ try from a rolling maul. Seb Johnson, who had another fine game, was despatched to the touchline for a late tackle. With the score at a familiar 10 – 13 in Bicester’s favour, the clock was ticking very quickly. It couldn’t happen again – could it? Luke Gardiner took a brilliant catch and released Jack Green. He was bound to be stopped. He wasn’t of course - he ran like a bullock through a cornfield to land under the posts and give Chinnor a 17 – 13 lead.
The clock then all but stopped. Nothing the Chinnor Faithful could do would persuade it to move at a normal rate. Bicester smashed their way into the Chinnor 22. The rolling maul formed. The score was inevitable. We could barely watch. But, like the heroes they are, Chinnor put their bodies on the line again and held on. The final whistle blew. Hats, eyes and arms went to the sky and we thanked our lucky stars - and anyone else that would listen. What a game.
Commiserations to Bicester. They have a great team spirit and an ability to scrap and fight for a match which is unrivalled in this league. Their forwards played to their strengths and in their half-backs they have two great play-makers. We wish them well for next season.
It almost seems unfair to nominate your roving reporter’s man of the match on a day like this. Every player deserves it. Every man on the subs bench and every member of the Chinnor Faithful was in with a shout. However, it has to be done. Joe Rackstraw was superb; raging Andy Berry was back to his best, but this week’s award goes to Jack Green. It was his destiny. |
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