RUGBY UNION: Happiness and relief for Bowers (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Happiness and relief for Bowers

10:00am Tuesday 1st May 2012 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

CHINNOR head coach Jason Bowers admitted to mixed emotions after steering his side up into National 2 South with victory over Tonbridge Juddians.

Bowers’s side won 23 out of 26 league matches to make the play-off before producing a huge team performance on the big day.

He said: “It is just the icing on an incredibly well baked and wonderful cake.

“Overall, it was a wonderful day.

“We have played 26 games and been training since the start of July.

“You spend hours and hours looking to put it right and then, all of a sudden, it comes down to one game of rugby.

“At the final whistle, it was not just happiness, it was ‘thank God it’s all over.”

Bowers added: “Winning the toss was key. We decided to go against the conditions in the first half.

“The more and more they tried to play, we were able to stop them.

“I thought our tactics were executed brilliantly.

“We cleared our lines and the tackle count was good.

“Really, they didn’t look as if they were going to break us down.

“We knew at half-time with the conditions and James’s goal-kicking, we would have a chance.

“That 15-minute spell, just after the break, just killed it.

“That try in the corner was fitting for the game. It was an absolutely outstanding move.

“We had to be on top form. Tonbridge were second in their league for a reason.

“If you don’t play well, they will pick you off and they showed that with their try.”