Christmas Cheer Denied By Easter’s Boys

Hull lost a game where they were slow to start but fought their way back into it and were unlucky not a get bonus point. This was Hull’s last game of 2022 and they were looking for their first win of the season and bring some Christmas cheer to Chants Ave. Instead, Chinnor, who announced the appointment of former England forward Nick Easter as their director of rugby on Friday, won 29-15.
Chinnor were quickly out the blocks and in the second minute, they made best use of a penalty award and a catch-and-drive saw hooker Charlie Robinson get the touch down with full-back Nick Smith getting the conversion.
Four minutes later, Chinnor scored again when a break from deep in their own half saw winger Eparama Rokodrava released to race 60 yards for an unconverted try and see Chinnor leading 12-0.
Hull responded and after 14 minutes Hull co-captain Ali Heard burst through several tackles on a 50-yard break. Hull kept possession and after a lineout they hammered at the Chinnor line and eventually scrum-half Tomasi Tanumi jumped over the collapsed maul to score a try. Full-back Reece Dean converted to make it 12-7. Chinnor were next to score and once again their efficient catch-and-drive caught Hull out as Robinson touched down for his second, but unconverted, try.
Two minutes later Dean kicked a penalty goal to see Hull reduce the arrears to 17-10. Hull were still well in the game, but an attempt to keep the ball alive in their own ’22’ saw a fumble which allowed Chinnor centre Grant Hughes to pick up the loose ball and weave his way under the post for Smith to convert after 35 minutes.
Hull surged up field and their scrum had begun to completely dominate the Chinnor eight and after 37 minutes following a Hull lineout was awarded to Chinnor for not being straight, the visitors elected for a scrum. Hull took full advantage of the situation and as the Chinnor scrum disintegrated and spun out of control, Will Hall picked up the ball to score an unconverted try to see them trailing 24-15 at half-time.
The second period was something of stalemate with both sides having difficulty in sustaining attacks as the conditions got worse. Hull’s back row man Laurence Cowen-Leak nearly scored after a tremendous foot rush over 60 yards, but was caught just short of the line. Chinnor made no mistake as players began to tire with a great break down the right hand side to see winger Kieran Goss go over for the final score of the game after 70 minutes to secure a 29-15 Chinnor victory.