Chinnor were pushed back early on, but McNulty did brilliantly to win back possession from a lineout and, courtesy of scrum-half Will Flinn’s fine back of the hand pass and strong running from lock Ben Thomas, they made their way up the pitch.

Both sides were guilty of errors in the opening stages, but Richmond, who were looking to spread the ball wide at every opportunity, took the lead through Ross Kirby’s 14th-minute penalty.

The hosts pushed Chinnor back as they went in search of the first try of the game, but they had to settle for three points as another Kirby penalty made it 6-0 after 22 minutes.

However, the visitors responded brilliantly to get their noses in front four minutes later.

Chinnor launched a driving maul from a lineout and McNulty spun away before touching down. Laurence May added the extras to make it 7-6.

The visitors now had control of proceedings and had a golden opportunity to extend their lead, but Flinn dropped the ball with the try-line at his mercy after Ofisa Treviranus had broken through the Richmond defence.

Chinnor headed into the break a point ahead and the home faithful thought their side had made a dream start to the second half when No 8 Tom Pashley raced over, but a penalty had already been awarded to the visitors.

Richmond continued to search for a reply and only a brilliant last ditch-tackle from Carl Kirwan prevented Ronnie McLean from touching down.

However, the pressure eventually took its toll and Liston forced his way over, Kirby converting, to make it 13-7 to the hosts on 57 minutes.

Once again, though, Chinnor’s reaction was first class as they worked their way back up the pitch before replacement scrum-half Callum Watson fed full-back Will Harries to squeeze over in the corner. May brilliantly landed a difficult conversion from the touchline to put the visitors 14-13 in front.

The second half was proving to be a gripping contest and Kirby’s third penalty of the game put Richmond 16-14 ahead with 15 minutes to go.

Chinnor were forced back again by the hosts and Joe Dancer made a fine try-saving tackle to deny McLean, but brute force saw Saysell driven over, Kirby converting, to make it 23-14 on 72 minutes.

The visitors were unable to go in search of a reply as they were forced to defend in the latter stages.

Chinnor winger Kieran Goss was sin-binned with seconds remaining and Kirby slotted the resultant penalty in the last play to complete the scoring.

Richmond: Kirby, Caddy, Mitchell, McLean, Graham, Dennett, Dabell, Walford, Grimstone, Litchfield, Hodge, Bibic, Liston, Saysell, Pashley.
Replacements: Torpey, Banfield, Scott, Gallagher, Bagwell.

Chinnor: Harries, Worrall, Elder, Duncan, Goss, May, Flinn, Fidler, Selway, McNulty, Thomas, Sheriff, Treviranus, Kirwan, Ryan.
Replacements: Robinson, Southworth, Dancer, Barnes, Watson.