Cambridge’s Errors Prove Costly in Not The Prem Cup Loss to Chinnor

Cambridge head coach Richie Williams, a former Chinnor player, will see his team needing to overturn a nine-point deficit in the second leg of the Not The Prem Cup after they lost 33-24 to Chinnor in Thame. The two clubs established this two-match challenge following their exclusion from the current season’s Premiership Rugby Cup, which features 20 teams from the top two divisions in English rugby. The second game is scheduled to be played at Cambridge on 1 March 2025, during the next extended break in the second-tier Championship. Chinnor held a 21-14 lead at the interval. Although Cambridge narrowed the gap to two points in the second half, Callum Pascoe’s try extended the home team’s advantage with three minutes remaining. Cambridge head coach Richie Williams told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: “We made some simple errors which really cost us. I think 90% of the points we conceded were a direct result of the errors that we made.” He added, “I was pleased we managed to score some tries from some work we previewed in the week but defensively we’ve got to be better and the skill execution has to be far higher.” Neither team had participated in a competitive game since 19 October, and signs of rustiness were evident throughout the match, with Chinnor scoring five tries to Cambridge’s four. “We were the architects of our downfall at times. A lot of that was off the back of not playing rugby for a few weeks,” Williams stated. He continued, “Both teams made a lot of errors when they were in possession. I thought there was the same level of intensity in defence but the difference between us and Chinnor was they took their opportunities when they presented themselves and we were a little bit wasteful at times.” Williams concluded, “Result not withstanding, it was a positive advert for ourselves and Chinnor. There was a good atmosphere and a decent crowd that came to watch and we’ll look forward to hosting them on 1 March.” Two early touchdowns provided Chinnor with the initial impetus before Seb Brownhill responded for the Blood and Sand. Although Cambridge reduced the deficit to 26-24 after the break, a lineout error presented Pascoe with the opportunity to secure the win for the home side. “It was a decent spectacle, there were lots of points scored and I was pleased with some individual performances,” Williams added. He further noted, “Seb Brownhill really stood out, he’s been waiting for that opportunity for a long time, his set-piece work was really good, he worked hard in the loose as well so I’m encouraged by that.”