Chinnor 20, Barnstaple 8

A sterling second-half display saw Chinnor deservedly earn victory in this wind-affected National 3 South West clash.

After leading 15-3 at half-time, but with the wind gusting strongly in Barnstaple’s favour, many Chinnor fans questioned whether they had enough of an advantage.

However, with flanker Ed Vickers leading the way on his first start, the hosts upped the ante and gave Barnstaple very few chances to score.

Chinnor may have been slightly disappointed not to earn a bonus point and to concede a try on the final whistle, but they should take much from a victory that came after three straight defeats.

With the wind behind them, Chinnor were always going to kick long in the first half, but they often lacked precision and composure.

This was shown on four minutes when wing James Serrano threw a wild pass when he could have scored himself.

Chinnor took the lead with an eighth-minute penalty from fly half James Cathcart.

But Barnstaple, who had the dominant scrum at this point, replied with a three-pointer from centre Josh Squire.

The wind frequently made line-out throwing a lottery and created a scrappy game.

However on 23 minutes, Chinnor scrum half Ricky Hopwood suddenly found space to finish well for the opening try.

The hosts kept pressing and Vickers was held up in the corner, while Barnstaple saw very little of the ball.

Chinnor centre Matt Goode jinked his way through for a superb solo try, which Cathcart converted for 15-3.

Barnstaple had battled admirably, but could have found themselves further behind at the break.

Firstly, centre Huw Morgan was unable to take Goode’s off-load, then wing Baz Corpe blew a chance by not passing.

Squire missed a long-range penalty early in the second half, as Barnstaple got little change out of Chinnor’s resolute defence.

Even a yellow card for home skipper Matt Hutchings, who let his frustration boil over at a ruck, didn’t wrestle the hosts’ advantage away.

Cathcart saved Hopwood blushes after his box-kick was charged down on 62 minutes.

At the other end, a fine moved initiated by Vickers hitting the line like a juggernaut ended with a Hopwood fumble.

Chinnor’s pack had much the better of the second half, and having failed with one catch-and-drive move, they bagged try No 3 from 20 metres out.

No 8 Tom Mowbray got the touchdown and the game was safe.

Replacement flanker Nick Harrison and Adam Hastings, now at No 8, went close before Barnstaple openside Mike Sumner scored their consolation try, latching on to wing Rob Elliott’s long run.

Chinnor: R Williams, Serrano, Goode, Morgan, B Corpe, Cathcart, Hopwood (Prescott 75), Stock, Tattersall, Winpenny (Pickett 74), Hutchings (capt), Smith, Vickers, Hastings, Mowbray (Harrison 74).

Referee: E McWalter (Gloucester).

Man-of-the-match: Vickers.