This had all the ingredients of a local derby particularly at the beginning of the festive season: a foggy day and big crowd expecting a game to suit the occasion. This they got in spades.

Henley were obviously fired up for this match against their Oxfordshire rivals and a lot of kicking in the first few minutes saw them gain most of the territory. However, when Chinnor managed to gain some possession on 9 minutes, Kieron Goss scored a trademark try breaking through two tackles to score near the posts, converted by Sam Angell.

This was followed by some intense Henley pressure which led to their first try by Simon Perry. Straight from the restart a penalty by Sam Angell increased the Chinnor lead and this was to be indicative of the nip and tuck nature of the game.

Throughout this period, the Henley lineout was sound and a rolling maul following a clean catch by Henley captain Dave Clement led to a well-worked try by hooker Tom Emery. After half an hour the scores were tied at 10-10.

The flow of the game then swung towards Chinnor when flanker Alex Bradley, on loan from Ealing Trailfinders, scooped up the ball and ran in from 10 metres following a Nathan Hannay break. Sam Angell converted for Chinnor to go in at half-time 7 points ahead at 17-10.

The second half started dramatically when Henley kicked through following a Chinnor handling error in midfield and centre Liam O'Neill touched down. The try was converted by George Jackson to level the scores once again.

Chinnor's scrum was starting to put enormous pressure on the Henley pack and eventually this led to a superbly worked try for Nathan Hannay on 54 minutes. Sam Angell once again converted.

At times this season, Chinnor’s Achilles heel has been their indiscipline and on 59 minutes second row Ross Parkins was sin-binned letting Henley back into the game. Minutes later, the extra man duly told when Tom Emery went over for his second try and Henley’s fourth.

Soon after Chinnor’s problems were compounded when hooker, Koree Britton, was carded for foul play. Henley seized the initiative and when a rolling maul was pulled down illegally by Chinnor, the visitors were awarded a penalty try. This was converted by George Jackson to put Henley 29-24 in the lead.

In the dying minutes and with the vocal home support calling for one last effort, Chinnor moved the ball from one end of the park to the other which saw Sam Angell crash over for Chinnor's try bonus point. Injured in crossing the line, Angell’s conversion attempt sailed wide of the posts and with the scores tied 29-29, this pulsating game came to a close.

Matt Williams Chinnor's director of rugby, said afterwards "It was a good local derby, a very attritional game".

Henley DoR Nigel Dudding said "we played the game at a high tempo based on our lineout and possession. We recognised our scrum was vulnerable. We wanted to play with width and our defence was outstanding".

It was close today but Chinnor remain unbeaten at Kingsey Road and can go into the New Year with confidence having scored a mammoth 644 points so far this season. Merry Christmas to all.

Teams

Chinnor
Kieran Goss, Luke Hibberd, Steve Castle, Bevon Armitage ©, Henry Lamont, Sam Angell, Greg Goodfellow, Ricky Cano, Koree Britton, Jay Tyack, Nathan Hannay, Ross Parkins, Alex Bradley, Gus Jones, CJ Osazuwa

Interchanges: Tom Price, Mark Darlington, Alex Waddingham, Junior Fatialofa, Callum Wilson

Henley
Alan Awcock, Xavier Andre, Connor Hayhow, Liam O'Neill, Simon Perry, Joe Butler, James Stevenson-Wright, James Hadfield, Tom Emery, Zaki Chamnaiou, Dave Clements ©, Jake Albon, David Hyde, Tom Hall, Marcus Lowe

Interchanges: Sam Beckett, Connor Morrison, Scott White, James Comben, George Jackson

Scorers

Chinnor
Tries (time): Goss 9, Bradley 29, Hannay 54, Angell 78
Conversions (time): Angell 10, 30, 55
Penalty Goals (time): Angell 17

Henley
Tries (time): Perry 14, Emery 27, 66, O’Neill 41, Penalty Try 70
Conversions (time): Jackson 42, 71
Penalty Goals (time):

Referee: Daniel Collins
Attendance: 850
Half time score: 17-10
Full time score: 29-29
Star man: Tom Emery - Henley