CHINNOR produced a brave performance in front of a bumper crowd in Thame. but were unable to complete a memorable comeback in defeat to Rams.

More than 1,000 people witnessed the first Friday night league match at Kingsey Road between two of the division’s top four sides.

Chinnor found themselves trailing 21-3 after 44 minutes, but tries from Jason Worrall and James Tyas hauled them back into a rip-roaring contest.

The Oxfordshire side dominated the second half and looked certain to edge out Rams, but they were unable to pull off a last-gasp victory, coming away with a losing bonus point.

The loss leaves Chinnor 12 points behind their Berkshire counterparts ahead of tomorrow’s games.

Despite the result, the bumper crowd witnessed a real arm-wrestle of a National League 1 contest, with the Oxfordshire club’s Friday experiment certainly paying off.

Director of rugby Matt Williams made eight changes, two positional, from the bonus-point win at Hull Ionians last Saturday.

Loosehead Camilo Parilli-Ocampo was handed his first start, while Dan George, Carl Kirwan, Ed Hoadley, Will Harries and Sam Yawayawa came into the side.

Chinnor started well and took the lead on seven minutes through a Laurence May penalty.

The hosts were in control for the opening ten minutes, but could not add to their 3-0 lead.

Rams began to enjoy territory and their well-drilled mobile pack drove Chinnor back.

The visitors ultimately broke the home side’s resolve on 21 minutes when Ben Henderson was driven over, William Partington converting, to make it 7-3.

Rams were dominating and Chinnor found themselves on the defensive again when Conor Corrigan broke the gain line. They then made their territory count two minutes before the break when Tom Vooght touched down following a driving lineout, Partington adding the extras.

The hosts needed to start the second half well, but found themselves 21-3 down within four minutes of the restart when Henderson fed Vooght to go over, Partington again converting.

Chinnor needed to respond and they did.

Suddenly they had more purpose and May made a fine break only for Harries to knock on the pass out wide.

The home side were not to be denied, though, as leading try-scorer Worrall cut through the Rams defence and outpaced the backline to dive over. May adding the extras as the lead was cut to 11 points.

Chinnor’s tails were up and they made it 21-17 after patient play from a lineout on the 22.

Quick ball allowed the hosts to make their way towards the try line and Rams’ defence eventually buckled, Tyas driving over from close range to the delight of the majority of the 1,020-strong crowd. May was again accurate from the tee to cut the lead to four points.

With 16 minutes to go there was still plenty of time and, although the Berkshire visitors failed to take advantage of a couple of penalties, Chinnor were on top and dominant in the scrum.

However, they were unable to make the most of their territory with Rams winning crucial turnovers as the home side went in search of a crucial third try.

With the clock running down there was still more drama to come.

Rams looked to have done enough when they were awarded a penalty, but an infringement at the resultant scrum gave Chinnor the opportunity to kick for the corner.

However, Rams stole the lineout and were left celebrating when referee Ben Russell blew the full-time whistle.

Chinnor: Harries, Worrall, Yawayawa, Laverick, Hodson, May, Hoadley, Parilli-Ocampo, George, Rees, Ramshaw, Ehizode, Tyas, Kirwan, W Ryan.
Reps: McNulty, Southworth, Selway, Dancer, C Ryan.

Rams: Partington, Rossiter, Bryant, Hayhow, Corrigan, Humberstone, Cole, Kidd, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, C Stapley, Guttridge, Vooght, R Stapley.
Reps: Steadman, Zeiss, Collis, Bridger, Moates.