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25 November pre-match notes |
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NeverbeentoChinnor
British and Irish Lion Joined: 01 Sep 2023 Location: Chepstow Status: Offline Points: 209 |
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Posted: 24 Nov 2023 at 10:24 |
Lots of interesting back history contained in this taster of Chinnor's home game with Richmond tomorrow. Interesting suggestion regarding Chinnor Falcons (2nd XV). They were on an adjoining pitch on Saturday and indeed looked very youthful and didn't appear to feature many with 1st XV experience. Can see that decision both ways viz some players not getting too much game time, but remaining available if required as no chance of an injury. Again a very forthright view on meddling with National League 1.Chinnor face resurgent Richmond in huge clashChinnor host Richmond on Saturday which is certain to be another blockbuster at Kingsey Road. Richmond have had a topsy turvy season following their very unfortunate relegation from the Championship last season. A record of won five, lost five doesn’t really tell the tale of their performances so far as several of their losses have been by less than a score, if they had managed to win a couple of those games they would be sitting quite comfortably in the top 3. They come off the back of a very impressive 36-22 win against erstwhile league leaders Plymouth Albion, who the week before strangled Chinnor to go top. Yet another example of how National 1 is such a wonderful league. With 7 teams within a win of challenging for top spot and the bottom 2 teams both beating the league leaders in recent weeks this is a league of the highest quality and hugely competitive. There are no bankers and every match, every week can go either way. It beggars belief that the RFU want to tinker with such a wonderful institution- if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! Chinnor have never beaten Richmond and in our most recent meeting they eased to a win at Kinsey Road on their way to promotion to the second tier. In recent weeks they have been boosted with several returnees from their stay in the Championship and have hugely influential half backs Jones and Landry. Up front the powerful ex Leinster prop Mpiko is always a handful in the tight and his running game, We’ll need to be on our mettle to combat a very capable and resurgent team. We also welcome old friends from the Richmond committee, especially ex Chinnor player and now President of Richmond James Foster. James played his junior and first steps into senior rugby with us and is very fondly remembered by those of a certain vintage. He was a key member of the extremely formidable front row of the all conquering Chinnor colts in the mid 1980s packing down with Gary Pudwell and Nick Mantell. Nick Mantell was the New Zealand u18s Captain at the time and went on to have a superb playing career for Auckland alongside the likes of Sean Fitzpatrick and Zinzan Brooke, James left Chinnor and went on to multiple Cambridge Blues and a career at Richmond alongside the Quinnells and Gus Pinchot, Puddy went on to terrorise the loose head props of clubs up and down the Home Counties and become an icon of National League rugby clubs. It’s very poignant that he passed away this weekend last year. He would have liked nothing more than standing in the corner of the bar with Fozzy and chewing the fat over multiple pints- he did after all say he taught James to scrummage and to drink. James made his 1st team debut as an 18 year old in a team captained by our President Simon Vickers, that has to be a a one off for 2 Presidents. For those of you that want an extra fix of rugby ? Chinnor Falcons play Richmond Saxons at 2.30 pm. Greg Handre Goodfellow continues to do a fantastic job with the Falcons as he blends a dozen of last years Colts into the team. They have had some remarkable highs and the odd low but for such a young team to be playing rugby at that standard is exceptional and the boys are loving their experience. Maybe the RFU should be looking to replicate this model and ask Greg for advice on how to keep youngsters in the game rather than tinker with the finest league in the pyramid. |
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fatbear
World Cup Winner Joined: 13 Sep 2013 Location: Thame Status: Offline Points: 2875 |
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4 players with 1st team experience in today's Chinnor Falcons side. Heathman, Cadden, Price and Blakemore, plus Goodfellow on the bench |
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fatbear
World Cup Winner Joined: 13 Sep 2013 Location: Thame Status: Offline Points: 2875 |
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To demonstrate what a good league National One is, since 2010/11, London Scottish, Jersey, Doncaster, Hartpury, Coventry, Ampthill and Caldy have been promoted and have remained in the Championship. Ealing Trailfinders did get relegated but immediately returned after one season, and Richmond have gone up twice and been relegated twice, but stayed in the Championship for three seasons both times. Plymouth, Moseley and Esher, Rotherham and Leeds have been relegated from the Championship and not yet been able to return.
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NeverbeentoChinnor
British and Irish Lion Joined: 01 Sep 2023 Location: Chepstow Status: Offline Points: 209 |
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Do you think Chinnor's standpoint is held by the majority of clubs in the league? I thought there was a suggestion earlier this season that the London clubs fancied something more regional, but I am relying on threads such as this for snippets of information and don't really have a clue. I like the clarity of Chinnor's message.
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fatbear
World Cup Winner Joined: 13 Sep 2013 Location: Thame Status: Offline Points: 2875 |
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I have no idea, but from the general feedback on this forum I thought most posters thought National 1 should be left alone. It is a great league so why spoil it ?!
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tigerburnie
World Cup Winner Joined: 10 Jun 2012 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 3790 |
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Well if Prem 2 is actually dead in the water I can see no reason to go Nat 1 North and South, so should remain as is, but does the RFU do reason?
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Rabbie Burns
World Cup Winner Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3350 |
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There is no reason to go Nat 1 N & S and that has been fed back to the RFU. The problem is not at L3 and below it is at 1 & 2 for different reasons
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So many Christians not enough Lions
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Raider999
World Cup Winner Joined: 18 Jan 2013 Location: Crawley Status: Offline Points: 4477 |
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Agreed, problem has been level 1 and 2 for several years- plus lack of consistent direction from RFU |
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RAID ON
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