CHINNOR conceded three tries in the final six minutes as Plymouth Albion pulled off a shock comeback to win an eye-catching contest at Kingsey Road.

It was another great advert for Level 3 rugby, but that would have been little consolation for the home faithful.

When Elliot Chilvers crossed for our fifth try on 67 minutes, we looked to have control of the contest as we led 36-22.

But we were unable to see the game out and celebrate Ben Manning’s 150th appearance with a victory as Plymouth struck late with their final try arriving in the last play.

The defeat leaves us fifth in the table and we are now 16 points behind leaders Cinderford.

Vice-captain Manning skippered the side from openside flanker – our only positional change from the victory over Tonbridge Juddians a fortnight ago - on an emotional day when he received a resounding reception when leading out the side.

There were plenty of other alterations, with Charlie Fleckney, Soane Tonga’uiha, Oli Curry and Willie Ryan coming into the pack. In the backs, Jack Walsh, Will Millett and Seb Scott were handed starts at scrum-half, fly-half and left wing respectively. On the bench, Greg Goodfellow and Jason Worrall were in line for their first appearances of the season.

Albion were the better side for the opening 15 minutes and led 10-0 courtesy of a Phil Jones penalty and a converted Jeremy To’a try.

However, we recovered from our slow start to then lead 14-10 after 29 minutes.

A knock-on at the restart following To’a’s try allowed Millett to kick to the corner and there was no stopping the ensuing driving maul, which led to Fleckney going over – James Bourton adding the extras.

We should have crossed again on 27 minutes, but George Grose spilled the ball forward when diving over after Albion found themselves on the ropes following Fred Tuilagi’s strong carry off the back of a lineout.

However, two minutes later and we did take the lead, thanks to Bourton’s neat finish out wide. The Ealing Trailfinders loanee then stepped up to expertly convert from the touchline.

Albion’s free-flowing attacking rugby had already caused problems and it proved effective again when Alex Ducker crossed for the first of his hat-trick of tries to put the visitors a point in front.

But we regained control to deservedly head into the break at 24-15.

Strong carries from Scott and Tuilagi hauled us to within ten metres and Walsh fed a rampaging Manning who cut a superb line to storm over and celebrate passionately in front of our supporters. Bourton added the extras and then slotted a penalty just before the break as we led by nine points.

It all seemed to be going to plan with Benji scoring a try on his special day, and we were good value for our lead.

Most of the opening ten minutes of the second period had been played in our half, but we countered brilliantly to extend our advantage to 29-15 on 53 minutes.

Winning back possession deep in our half, the ball was played wide to Kieran Goss, who shot through a gap, somehow shook off a tackle, and sprinted clear over half-way, racing over from a good 70m for a phenomenal solo try.

Just a few moments later and the game was stopped for five minutes or so as a change of referee was needed with Veryan Boscawen suffering a hamstring injury.

When play finally restarted Plymouth’s Shek Sheriff dived over to cut our lead to seven points, but that was soon doubled again.

We patiently went through the phases and Chilvers forced his way over as we established a 34-22 lead in the 68th minute.

As the clock ran down and even with Tuilagi in the sin-bin, we looked good value for a bonus-point victory, but it’s never over until the final whistle.

Chinnor looked the more likely to add to their try-count, but we were suddenly hit on the counter and Ben Parsons dived over, Jones adding the extras, to reduce our lead to nine points with six minutes to go.

Unfortunately, we were unable to see the game out from there as Albion went on to snatch victory.

A pass was intercepted in the Plymouth half and the visitors countered superbly, resulting in Ducker diving over. Jones again added the extras to close the gap to just two points.

We had still seemingly done enough when we were awarded a scrum on their 22 with only seconds to go, but the ball was hacked forward after popping out of the side. Goss won the foot race, but was somehow dispossessed and Ducker was fed for his third of the game to clinch it at the death.

The game was already won as Jones slotted the conversion and we were left to reflect on another late home defeat.

Chinnor: Bourton, Goss, Grose, Yawayawa, Scott, Millett, Walsh; Chilvers, Fleckney, Tonga’uiha, Glynn, Curry, W Ryan, Manning, Tuilagi.
Replacements: Lines, Lomas, North, Worrall, Goodfellow.

Plymouth Albion: Weeks, Cornish, Parsons, To’a, Ducker, Jones, Clement; Rukhadze, Salter, Pullinger, Sheriff, Scragg, Mills, Gibson, Stupple.
Replacements: Clarke, Wilkinson, MacFarlane, Collier, Eastgate.