Chinnor pack hold key in semi-final

From the archive, first published Saturday 22nd Mar 2003.

Chinnor make their almost annual pilgrimage to Henley for the David Charles Oxfordshire Cup semi-final on Sunday, hoping to repeat last year's triumph.

In recent seasons, the two sides have found it hard to avoid each other at this stage of the competition.

Last year, Chinnor won 28-15 in a dour struggle, dominated by penalty kicks, on the way to beating Banbury in the final.

However, Conor Begley, who contributed 20 of Chinnor's points, misses this year's contest with a back injury.

The South West 1 club, who are close to full strength, will be hoping to dictate the match through their strong pack, in which speedy young flankers David Seymour and Tom Johnson have been outstanding this season.

Chinnor are boosted outside the scrum by flying winger Charlie Oyebade, who does not play for the club on Saturdays due to rugby league commitments with London Students.

Chinnor coach Lynn Evans said: "One thing in our favour is that Henley are not used to the intensity of week-to-week league matches, something we've had to cope with all season."

Under the rules of the competition, Henley field their second team - Alliance - who won the cup two years ago under the captaincy of Phil Osman. He will again be featuring in this game at No 10.

This means that Spike Chandler, the first-choice place-kicker, plays at full back.

The Henley pack looks stronger than that which played in this fixture last season.

Sean Cooke, at prop, has impressed when coming off the bench for the Hawks in recent matches and his partnership with Swedish player Erik Trogen will be important if they are to gain parity in the scrums

They will be up against prop Simon Matthews, the former Henley player who usually rises to the occasion against his old club.

Oxford Harlequins, making their first appearance in the final since the merger between Oxford Old Boys and Marathon, are waiting to meet the winners, at Iffley Road on Sunday, April 6.

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