Rugby: Chinnor stifled

From the archive, first published Tuesday 7th Feb 2006.

OXFORD Harlequins produced their best performance of the season to dump pre-tournament favourites Chinnor out of the Oxfordshire Cup with a 15-3 win.

And a 12-point victory margin was the least they deserved after stifling their promotion-chasing rivals for all but the first ten minutes of this quarter-final clash at Horspath Road.

Quins showed an intensity they have all too often lacked this season, defending with ferocity and in numbers.

Fielding their first choice centre pairing of Andy Henley and Charlie Mawle made a big difference as Chinnor never really looked like cutting through the midfield.

But this was no backs to the wall victory as Quins showed a more clinical, cutting edge with tries from Mawle and flanker Dan Bonnano.

Chinnor can now, of course, concentrate on the league, but must have thought the double looked on after making a strong start.

Concerted pressure yielded a simple penalty, which full back James Hewitt slotted over on seven minutes.

Hewitt was at fault, however, when Quins took the lead ten minutes later, capitalising after he misjudged an up and under from scrum half Rodney Dowd.

Quins kept the ball in Chinnor's 22 and created an opening, which Bonnano exploited, powering over from 15 metres.

Skipper Andy Noyce missed the conversion, but his 33rd minute penalty gave Quins an 8-3 half-time lead after No 8 Paddy Soper's incisive run.

In between, Mawle was denied a certain try when referee Greg Davis adjudged Anthony Cope had given him a forward pass and Hewitt missed a long-range penalty.

Quins looked set to extend their lead after some great pressure, but their best chance saw the ball just elude flanker Jamie Cope.

Chinnor were clearly fired up at the beginning of the second half and gained a foothold with two good scrums in Quins' 22.

But the hosts dug in, earned a couple of penalties, and never looked back.

They thought they had try No 2 on 54 minutes, but their rolling maul was just held up.

A minute later, fly half Anthony Cope's perfectly timed pass to picked out Mawle's run to the line.

Noyce added the conversion and Quins had one foot in the semi-final.

Chinnor brought on Richard Williams at fly half as they chased the game, but the home defence stood firm.

Lock Andy Milburn came closest for the visitors when he was stopped just short following a rolling maul on 77 minutes, but this was not going to be Chinnor's day.

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