RUGBY UNION: Williams seals late comeback

From the Oxford Mail, first published Tuesday 5th Sep 2006.

Chinnor 16, Clifton 15 RICHARD Williams kept his nerve to kick an 88th-minute conversion and give Chinnor the most dramatic of victories on their National 3 South debut.

Clifton led 15-9 deep into stoppage time at Kingsey Road and looked set for a deserved victory.

But having struggled to find fluency throughout a wind-affected clash, Chinnor struck with a powerful finish from centre Darren Oxley.

Fly half Williams' cross-field kick had put Clifton under pressure on their left wing and the hosts regained possession.

The ball was spun across to the left wing where replacement Ben Hewitt stood up his man and created the space for Oxley's try.

With the wind swirling around him, the conversion was far from simple for Williams, but his aim was true and the relief from the home fans was palpable.

Clifton elected to play with the wind behind them in the first half, but some sound defence ensured they only led 10-3 at the break.

Visiting fly half John Barnes was the leading kicker in South West 1 last season and was soon using the wind to peg Chinnor back.

Barnes' penalty put Clifton 3-0 up on 15 minutes as they unsurprisingly dominated the territory.

Clifton only got behind Chinnor once in the first half, but it was enough for their talented winger Andy Bell to nip around the outside and touch down.

Barnes's conversion made it 10-0, but this seemed to spur Chinnor on.

Flanker Harry Jackman and hooker JP Immelman both came close, but the hosts were happy to settle for a Williams penalty on 29 minutes.

Chinnor began the second period in dominant mood, but knocked on as they tried to roll a maul over the line on 49 minutes.

Fortunately referee David Sainsbury brought play back for a penalty, which Williams slotted, but he was off target with another attempt on 55 minutes.

Chinnor were relieved when Clifton scrum half Ollie Sills knocked on with the line at his mercy just afterwards.

Knock-ons continued to blight Chinnor's play with centre John Pritchard twice culpable and Clifton looked to have punished them with a 71st-minute try from centre Sam Smee.

Williams' third penalty made it 15-9 and set up a thrilling finish.

The wind meant Chinnor were never out of it, but as the game spilled over into injury time, it looked bleak.

Chinnor were unbeaten at home in the league throughout 2005/06, but they never left it this late in their title winning run.

: Sutton, R Grimsdell, Pritchard, Oxley, N Grimsdell (B Hewitt 78), Williams, Duder, Isefo (Matthews 72), Immelman (Cawston 50), Conlon, Hutchins, Burrows (Millburn 40), Rixon, Jackman, Hennessy (capt).

Referee: D Sainsbury (RFU) Chinnor man-of-the-match: Williams.

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