Cathcart misses out

From the archive, first published Saturday 20th Dec 2003.

James Cathcart, whose late penalty gave Chinnor a dramatic victory over Oxford Harlequins last month, will miss the return clash in South West 1 at Kingsey Road on Saturday (2pm).

Quins looked like winning the first Oxfordshire derby at Horspath Road, before Cathcart landed a penalty from halfway with the last kick of the game to nick an 11-10 win.

But the lanky fly half is suffering from an ulcer, and is expected to be out for at least a month, having returned to Ireland.

This is the latest in a series of misfortune to have hit the Chinnor back division this season.

Centres Darren Oxley (hamstring), Jon Brooks (knee ligaments) and Tim Wright (hamstring) are all ruled out, so John David seems set to start at fly half.

Coach John Brodley is delaying naming his side until the injuries have been assessed, for there is also a doubt about hooker Tom Whelan, who suffered neck and shoulder problems in the 49-5 defeat by title favourites Reading two weeks ago.

Brodley is also waiting for news on the availability of dangerous winger Charlie Oyebade.

Considering their woes, Chinnor have done well to win five times this season.

"We've made ourselves difficult to beat at home," said Brodley. "If you're going to get anywhere in this league, you've got to make your own ground a fortress."

Their mid-table position is due to their outstanding back row of Tom Johnson, Dave Seymour and former Oxford Blue James Kindon.

"I expect Harlequins to attack us out wide," said Brodley, who inidicated he was surprised by the narrowness of the Quins attacks in the first encounter betweeen the two clubs.

Quins have injury problems of their own, with doubts about lock Elliott Stephenson (back), centre Nathan Smith (knee) and dangerous winger Martin Nutt (ribs).

Coach Matt Maudsley said: "It's a pity Chinnor are missing several players, because we would like to put one over them when they're at full strength, so there are no excuses."

Maudsley admits that they lost the first game because it was Chinnor who dictated the pace.

"We needed to maintain a high tempo," said Maudsley, who added that Quins had fallen below expectations this season.

"We've struggled to field a settled centre partnership, but now we think we've found it in Charlie Mawle and Nathan Smith.

"At the start of the season, we were aiming at a top-four place, and I feel that's still within our reach."

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