By Coventry Rugby 
By Alex Didlick
A fast start in driving rain ultimately went unrewarded for Coventry, as Chinnor fought back to snatch a narrow victory at the Butts Park Arena. Despite early dominance and two quick tries by the Captain, Coventry were left frustrated by handling errors in a game decided by fine margins.
The rain intensified just in time for kick-off, forcing both sides to manage tricky conditions from the outset. Chinnor initially cleared their lines with a short box kick, inviting Coventry to assert themselves early- and the hosts did exactly that. The first meaningful spell of possession was converted clinically, with the ever-present Jordon Poole forcing his way over for the opening try. An ideal start for Alex Rae’s side.
Poole was firing. Barely minutes later, the club captain struck again, this time picking a line worthy of a centre before tumbling over in front of the posts. Two tries in quick succession and Coventry were flying, though there was a familiar sense of caution given a similar start in the reverse fixture back in October.
Chinnor responded well and didn’t take long to get themselves on the scoreboard. After a series of battering carries from their forwards, Will Cave found the breakthrough to bring the visitors back into the contest. 14–7.
Cov’s first scrum of the afternoon offered further encouragement, a strong shove earning a penalty, though the chance went begging after an inaccurate lineout. The tempo dropped slightly from its frenetic opening, with both sides probing rather than forcing play. A second Coventry lineout misfired soon after – an area Poole would be keen to tighten up.
Having weathered the early storm, Chinnor began to enjoy more possession and territory. Coventry’s handling faltered on the left wing, gifting the visitors access to the 22, and this time they made it count. Scrum-half Callum Pascoe sold a dummy and dived over for a quintessential number-nine’s try. From such a commanding start, Coventry had again been reeled back in. 14–12.
Momentum was now with Chinnor, and Coventry’s task became harder when Senitiki Nayalo was shown yellow for a high tackle in the 34th minute. Despite the setback, Coventry defended resolutely through the remainder of the half and could have extended their lead but for a missed penalty from Thomas.
With conditions improving after the break, the stage seemed set for a higher scoring second half. Chinnor began brightly, opting for the corner from an offside penalty, but the threat was extinguished by some excellent Coventry defence. The opening ten minutes belonged to the visitors territorially, yet Coventry’s organisation and commitment kept their slender advantage intact.
Coventry’s first meaningful second-half entry into the Chinnor 22 was well constructed, featuring quick ball and strong forward carries, but the move broke down just short of the line.
A huge moment followed on 61 minutes when Josh Barton produced a try-saving tackle after Ewan Baker misjudged a bouncing ball, an awesome intervention in such a tight contest.
With ten minutes remaining, the game remained delicately poised, the scoreboard untouched throughout a bruising second half. The deadlock was finally broken when Chinnor struck from a well-worked lineout maul. Though initially disrupted, the drive retained momentum and was eventually grounded to give the visitors the lead. 14–19.
For the first time, Coventry found themselves trailing, but the BPA crowd stayed fully behind them. A scrum penalty on halfway offered hope of a late twist, but handling errors again proved costly, allowing Chinnor to escape. One final penalty gave Coventry the chance to attack the corner, yet the execution fell short once more.
Chinnor managed the closing moments expertly to see out the victory. It was a hugely frustrating afternoon for Coventry- another game where a blistering start went unrewarded, and fine margins ultimately told. Next week the lad’s head to Ealing Trailfinders looking to rediscover the form that saw them flying at the end of 2025.
Man of the match- Jordan Poole. On a day where points were hard to come by, Poole made it look easy with two impressive tries to open the game. Despite some lapses on the throw-ins,the captain recovered well to deliver a strong all-round performance.
Goal kicking
Josh Thomas- 2/3
Nick Smith-1/2
Callum Pascoe- 1/2
Try Scorers:
Coventry Rugby- Jordon Poole (3’,5’)
Chinnor RFC- Will Cave (9’), Callum Pascoe (34’), Scott Hall (72’)
Line-ups:
Coventry Rugby- Aristot Benz-Salomon, Jordon Poole ©, Eliot Salt, Jack Shine, SenitikiNayalo, Api Bavadra, Tom Ball, Chester Owen, Sam Maunder, Josh Thomas, Jack Reeves, Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti, Morgan Adderly-Jones, David Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Bacon
Finishers: Murray Davidson, Keston Lines, Matt Johnson, Mackenzie Graham, OnisivoroSukani Nayagi, Josh Barton, Tommy Mathews, Ewan Baker
Chinnor RFC- Kai Owen, Chris Moore, Robin Hardwick, James Campbell, Conor Brockshmidt, Harry Dugmore (C), Will Cave, Scott Hall, Callum Pascoe, Nick Smith, Freddie Owsley, Thomas Watson, Sam Hanks, Grant Hughes, Joe Brock
Finishers: Alun Walker, Ramaz Rukhadze, Freddie Cole, Luke Thompson, Daniel Cooke, Harry Taylor, James Bourton, Morgan Passman
