RUGBY UNION: Chinnor want fan power (From Oxford Mail)

RUGBY UNION: Chinnor want fan power

10:00am Friday 27th April 2012 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

CHINNOR head coach Jason Bowers is urging fans to make the most of their home advantage in tomorrow’s promotion play-off against Tonbridge Juddians (2.30).

The contest for a place in National 2 South will be the first meeting between the two teams, and Bowers hopes a large crowd can make Kingsey Road a fortress.

“Obviously home advantage is huge,” said Bowers, whose side are hosts due to their superior league points total.

“A passionate and vocal crowd will be like our 16th man.

“It is an old cliche, but it does work. When you are under pressure and hear people cheering for you, it does make a difference.”

Play-off rules mean sides field squads of 19 and Chinnor will confirm theirs today.

Hooker Alan Cawston, prop Ian Stock, lock Andy Smith, centre Matt Goode and full back Alex Woodhouse come into contention after missing last week.

Bowers added: “I said to the players this has been the best season I have been involved in as a coach.

“Regardless of the result on Saturday, it has been amazing.

“The icing on the cake would be a win against Tonbridge to get into the league our performances mean we deserve to be in.”

Tonbridge pipped Ampthill for second in National 3 London on games won after drawing 8-8 with them last week.

Juddians have raced up the leagues in recent years and are targeting their fourth successive promotion.

• CHINNOR lock Matt Hutchings will captain Oxfordshire as they begin their County Championship Shield Pool 3 campaign against Dorset & Wilts at Banbury (3).

Hutchings is one of eight men from Chinnor’s strong second team in the 24-man group, who have all committed themselves for the entire campaign.

Head coach Richard Will-iams, who praised the squad’s spirit, has also named four Oxford Brookes University players, plus Bicester centre Dave Hampton and Wallingford No 8 Ian Jeffreys.

TOMORROW'S SQUADS

Chinnor (v Tonbridge Juddians, home): from Winpenny (capt), Tattersall, Cawston, Whelan, Pickett, Stock, Smith, Jackman, Harrison, Hastings, Mowbray, Waddingham, Gilbert, Jones, Cathcart, Powell, Stoop, Seymour, Gary, Chase, Woodhouse, Colver.

Oxfordshire (v Dorset & Wilts, home): from N Sevier (Grove), Woodhouse (Chinnor), Carr (Grove), Doherty (Oxford Brookes), Fielding (Oxford Brookes), Tevita (Oxford Harlequins), Hampton (Bicester), Millet (Chinnor), Smith (Oxford Harlequins), Gustafson (Grove), Newman (Chinnor), Stock (Chinnor), Matthews (Chinnor), Eckert (Grove), Holyland (Oxford Brookes), Chadbone (Oxford Harlequins), Hall (Oxford Harlequins), Dixey (Grove), Devine (Chinnor), Matt Hutchings (Chinnor, capt), Sawyer (Oxford Brookes), M Williams (Chinnor), Jeffreys (Wallingford), Bellinger (Grove).