CHINNOR were unable to finish the decade with a fifth straight home win as Richmond emerged victorious at Kingsey Road.

Sixteen points from Tom Hodgson helped the National League 1 leaders triumph in a bruising encounter.

Hooker Nick Selway crossed for Chinnor in the second half, but it proved only a consolation as they suffered their first defeat since October 26.

Since then the Thame-based side have embarked on a seven-match unbeaten run, including four successive home wins, but they were unable to overcome Richmond in a hard-fought festive fixture.

The loss has seen Chinnor slip to sixth in the table, nine points behind new leaders Rosslyn Park, but they can head into the Christmas break knowing a strong first half of the season keeps them in the mix with plenty of rugby still to play.

Director of rugby Matt Williams made seven changes, two positional, from the victory over Darlington Mowden Park.

Joe Rees was handed his long-awaited debut following ACL reconstruction, while Jack Ramshaw, James Tyas, Ofisa Treviranus and Kieran Goss also started.

There was also a reshuffle in midfield with Pete Laverick switched to 12 and Jason Worrall to inside centre.

The recent relentless heavy rain saw the Kingsey Road pitch under water on Friday.

Coaches, players and volunteers had worked hard on the morning of the game to clear the standing water to ensure the match could go ahead.

But the home side were unable to keep Richmond at bay as the visitors dominated the first half to lead 18-0 at the break.

Hodgson’s penalty put the leaders 3-0 up after 16 minutes, before the fly-half converted his own try to extend their lead to ten points.

Chinnor were struggling to get into the game and even when they did enjoy some territory they were unable to make the most of it with Richmond stealing a lineout.

The home side did have an opportunity to break the deadlock after half an hour, but Laurence May’s penalty attempt slipped wide of the right post.

And Richmond went on to dictate the rest of the first period, extending their advantage through Alexander Bibic’s unconverted try, before Hodgson added another penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Chinnor improved after the break, but were unable to prevent the visitors extending their advantage to 21 points through the boot of Hodgson.

Richmond did not trouble the try-line again for the rest of the game, though, as the hosts enjoyed more territory.

Their pressure eventually paid off as Selway broke from a driving maul and dived over unopposed for an unconverted try with six minutes to go.

Chinnor still had chances late on as they were camped in the Richmond half.

But Will Harries was unable to make the most of an opportunity out wide, while Callum Watson attacked on the blindside of a scrum only to be tackled into touch.

Richmond were then left celebrating at the full-time whistle as they denied Chinnor the chance to finish 2019 with a win.

Chinnor: C Ryan, Goss, Worrall, Laverick, Harries, May, Watson, Pieterse, Selway, Rees, Thomas, Ramshaw, Dancer, Tyas, Treviranus.
Reps: George, McNulty, W Ryan, Kirwan, Ashby.

Richmond: Molloy, Kelly, Mitchell, Ward, Eaton, Hodgson, Gibbs, Banfield, Grimstone, Litchfield, Hodge, Bibic, Saysell, Boyce, Parker.
Reps: Dowding, Gibbings, Warden, Gallagher, Cook.