Rugby: Chinnor pack will hold most of aces

From the archive, first published Friday 26th Mar 2004.

Chinnor will start as strong favourites to lift the Oxfordshire Cup for the fourth time when they take on fellow South West 1 side Oxford Harlequins in the final at Iffley Road on Sunday (3.30pm).

Although the records show one win apiece in league meetings between the sides this season, Chinnor's form in the past six weeks is in sharp contrast to that of injury-hit Harlequins.

Chinnor are in confident form, having moved up to sixth in the league on the back of some fine displays from a settled side.

Only injured full back Alan Cawston will be missing on Sunday from their first-choice squad.

Their success has been based on a powerful scrummaging pack, led by prop forward Simon Matthews, plus a strong back row.

Teenage flanker David Seymour, who is surely set to make his mark in the professional game, Tom Johnson and former Oxford University Blue James Kindon have become an extremely formidable unit.

Add to that the big boot of fly half James Cathcart and it's easy to see what there tactics will be.

However, coach John Brodley says that Chinnor are not just a ten-man team.

"I don't think our backs get the credit they deserve. After establishing a platform, we've shown this season that we can run in the tries."

The match is likely to be a contrast in styles, with Quins eager to use the pace of centre Martin Nutt, full back Dave Boreham and promising winger Henry Pooler.

Pooler is a youngster with searing spped, who has been honing his skills at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, a renowned academy for budding players.

With Vincent Dubois back in France and Charlie Mawle still injured, Quins coach Matt Maudsley has called up Nathan Smith to partner Nutt in the centre.

Since the neck injury that has sidelined skipper Jamie Cope for the last six weeks of the season, Quins have lacked a ball carrier in the back row to make a dent in opposition defences.

Maudsley is set to move lock Elliott Stephenson to the back row to counter Chinnor's threat in that area.

The New Zealander could inter-change with Paul Nye at No 8.

Ben Brusch will partner Lee Pearce in the second row, while Quins are able to pick prop Paul Delange, even though he was sent off a fortnight ago.

There is a strong Kiwi influence in the side in the form of flanker Shaun Baxter, who will lead the team, Stephenson and Smith.

With Quins stuggling to avoid relegation from South West 1, Maudsley knows where his priorities lie.

"The county cup is not a major concern, although it would be nice to pick up a bit of silverware," he said.

"We will certainly use the match as preparation for the important league games ahead against Cinderford and Cleveland.

"That's not to denigrate the cup, in any way - it's just that it's more important for the club to stay in South West 1."

Brodley is not taking things for granted.

"Quins showed by their draw at Keynsham last week, that they've sorted things out and we won't take them lightly."

The match will be preceded by the Oxfordshire Plate final between Henley Wanderers and The Blue Boar, which kicks off at 12.30pm. CUP FINAL LINE-UPS Chinnor: D Oxley, J Hewitt, J Brooks, T Wood, S McIvor, J Cathcart, G Phillips, S Matthews, T Whelan, J Winpenny, J Borgnis (capt), A Milburn, T Johnson, D Seynour, J Kindon. reps: M Cook, J Forster, M Hutchins, A Du Toit Serdyn, R Warner.

Oxford Harlequins (probable): D Boreham, E Recchia, M Nutt, N Smith, H Pooler, C Penney, A Cope, P DeLange, S Mitchell, W Houson, L Pearce, B Brusch, S Baxter (capt), P Nye, E Stephenson. Reps from: P Molyneux, M Dixon, L Donnelly, J Ashton, A Noyce, Jonny Anderson, M Simms.

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