BATTLING Chinnor dug deep under the Friday Night Lights, but ultimately could not stop Rams from recording a bonus-point victory at Old Bath Road.

It proved to be a pulsating derby encounter in Berkshire, but for all of our guile, physicality and heroic defensive work, a high penalty count proved crucial.

Having brilliantly battled back from 24-8 down to close to within two points after 60 minutes, the next score was always going to be vital.

We had our chances, but unfortunately it went the way of Rams and their fifth try in the last play perhaps put a harsh points difference between the sides at the final whistle.

In front of the Next Gen XV cameras with the game livestreamed by National League Rugby, it was a great advert for Level 3 and hopefully an experiment which will help to attract larger crowds in this division.

Director of Rugby, Richard Thorpe had initially only made one change from the side which started against Plymouth Albion, with Rob Hardwick returning at tighthead prop.

But that soon changed in the warm-up when winger Josh Hodson had to be withdrawn with a back spasm. Sam Yawayawa was promoted from the bench to start at inside centre, with James Bourton switching to 13 and Jason Worrall to the right wing, while George Grose came on to the bench.

Our First XV headed into the game with improved form and confidence following back-to-back victories, and we made a fairly bright start, but it was Rams who took the lead.

Having patiently gone through the phases on our 22 as we stopped everything that came our way, there was nothing we could do about hooker Ben Henderson who threw a fine dummy and sprinted through and over the whitewash. Drew Humberstone added the extras to make it 7-0 after eight minutes.

Our response was good as we immediately won a penalty and we chose to go for the posts, but Bourton saw his effort go wide of the left-hand upright.

By now the penalty count against was rising and this allowed Rams to enjoy a lot of territory and possession. The physicality and defensive work on show was some of the best we had seen this season, but a powerful 17th minute driving maul led to their second try, with Robbie Stapley crashing over for an unconverted score.

We now trailed by 12 points, but our reaction was impressive. Our maul from a 5m lineout never really got going, but several strong carries did the job before Luke Carter went back to the touchline and Worrall's lovely hands found Kieran Goss who dived over for his eighth try of the season. Bourton was unable to add the conversion, but we were now on the scoreboard.

Almost immediately, Conor Brockschmidt was needed at the other end as he prevented what looked to be a certain try. Humberstone broke free down the left and offloaded to Stevie Bryant who was superbly held up by the lock.

More strong defensive work was needed, with Willie Ryan, Fred Tuilagi and Brockschmidt putting in some earth-shuddering hits as Rams continued to enjoy most of the territory and possession. Goss then played his part as another attack broke down, applying just enough pressure to Michael Dykes whose pass to Henry Bird lacked accuracy and went out of play.

We were seemingly holding on and with the penalty count continuing to rise, it was only a matter of time before one of our players was yellow carded. Ben Glynn was sin-binned on 37 minutes and Rams went on to score their third try almost immediately as Stapley drove over again from a driving maul.

We hit back again before the break through a Bourton penalty, but the hosts led 17-8.

Unfortunately, the penalties continued at the start of the second half which allowed Rams to mount some serious pressure.

Despite holding firm for ten minutes, they eventually secured the four-try bonus point, with Jak Rossiter diving over out wide and Humberstone impressively slotting the conversion from the touchline.

We now trailed 22-8, but we dug deep and found a way back into the game.

A penalty almost immediately from the kick-off allowed Nick Smith to kick us to within 10m. We continued to mount the pressure, patiently picking and going, and Keston Lines drove over from close range on 55 minutes. Bourton stepped up to add the extras and close the gap to nine points.

Five minutes later and it was just two points. No 8 Tuilagi made a bulldozing carry through the centre of the field, before Bourton broke the gain line. Exchanging passes with Carter, the centre stormed forward to dive over before converting his own try - his tenth of the campaign.

Suddenly we were in the ascendency, had our tails up and there was a real feeling that whoever would score the next try would win, and we had our chances.

The best one arrived on 63 minutes when Smith raced through a gap and wonderfully offloaded to Ben Manning. The flanker then sent Bourton racing over the 22 and the centre had Worrall on his outside, but opted to pass inside instead and the attack broke down.

As we entered the final ten minutes there was everything to play for, but Rams went on to take control as a hack through the middle of the pitch ultimately pinned us on our try-line.

The pressure took its toll on 71 minutes when Stapley forced his way over for his hat-trick, Humberstone converting, to make it 31-22.

The boys continued to dig deep and try to find a way back into the contest, but Rams finished off the contest with another try in the last play when Bird crossed out wide and former Chinnor youngster Sam Nicholls slotted the conversion.

A disappointing end and result, but a heartening performance and ammunition to attack the remainder of the season.

Rams: Dykes, Bird, Bryant, Humberstone, Rossiter, Grundy, Cole, Marris, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Schroter, McRae, Everitt, R Stapley.
Reps: Hayman, Englezos, C Stapley, Sparkes, Nicholls.

Chinnor: Goss, Worrall, Bourton, Yawayawa, Hammond, Smith, Carter, Tonga’uiha, Robinson, Hardwick, Glynn, Brockschmidt, W Ryan, Manning, Tuilagi.
Reps: Lines, A Hunt, North, Heathman, Grose.