Rugby: Quins owe it to Penney

From the archive, first published Tuesday 6th Jan 2004.

South West 1

Chris Penney scored 19 points, including a late match-winning penalty, as Oxford Harlequins consolidated their fourth position with an exciting 29-26 victory over Bridgwater & Albion at Horspath Road.

A large crowd saw a thrilling contest, in which the lead changed hands five times before Quins completed the double over the bottom side.

After fly half Penney's early penalty, his opposite number George scored a try which he converted to give the Somerset visitors a 7-3 lead.

Quins hit back with Penney's second penalty, which was followed by a try when Penney and centre Charlie Mawle sent fellow centre Martin Nutt racing in on a long, arcing run from the halfway line.

Penney converted and added another penalty to put the home side 16-7 ahead.

Then, in the space of two minutes, Quins gave away two soft tries, scored by No 8 Ncumyama and hooker Hastie, both of which were converted.

Penney steadied Quins' nerves with a penalty as they trailed 21-19 at the break.

In the second half, Bridgwater went further ahead with a try by centre Webber.

Despite losing Jamie Cope with a neck injury, Quins, for whom hooker Clark Lawfull excelled in the loose, levelled with a try by flanker Sean Baxter which Penney converted.

Penney kicked his fifth penalty in the 62nd minute to give Quins a 29-26 lead.

In the dying moments, Bridgwater spurned a penalty kick to take a lineout, but Quins' defence repelled their drive to claim a hard-earned victory.

Chinnor staged a superb second-half comeback, only for a try in the seventh minute of injury time to give hosts Cheltenham a dramatic 35-30 victory.

It a bitter pill to swallow for the Thame-based side.

Just after half-time, they trailed 27-6, before a remarkable four-try burst in 14 minutes put them 30-27 in front.

Chinnor's pack was by now all over the Cheltenham eight, but the home side rallied with a penalty and a match-winning try.

Cheltenham dominated the first hour, with tries from Lodge, Hanger, Fraser Pimlow and Turner, plus two conversions and a penalty, putting them in charge.

The visitors had just two penalties from James Hewitt to show for their efforts.

However, a series of forward drives turned the match around as Chinnor scored tries through flanker Dave Seymour, scrum half Ger Phillips, flanker Tom Johnson and No 8 James Kindon.

Leon Westerman, taking over the place-kicking duties from the injured Hewitt, added two conversions to put Chinnor 30-26 in front.

Cheltenham replied with a penalty, and despite more Chinnor pressure, prop Gilder scored deep into injury time to snatch the verdict.

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