CHINNOR Wildboys remain top of Counties 1 Southern North following a thrilling fixture with second-placed Marlow at Kingsey Road.

The contest well and truly lived up to its billing, and although the visitors scored a late converted try to draw the game, our 3rd XV’s five-point lead still stands.

It was a nervy start from both teams, but an early yellow card for Sean Latham presented Marlow with the opportunity to strike fast.

That penalty was slotted through the posts for a 3-0 lead after a quarter of an hour, before they turned further pressure into points with a converted try making it 10-0 with 25 minutes played.

However, our reaction was impressive and two tries in the space of four minutes saw us head into the break with a 12-10 lead.

Pinning Marlow back in their half, the ball was spread wide for wing Joe Chapman to score superbly. Centre Sam Angell then stepped up to slot the conversion from the touchline – absolutely vintage Sam Angell.

Moments later and we took the lead. Marlow’s restart went straight out and a solid Wildboys scrum provided the platform. No 8 George Hope fed scrum-half Dan Coulon and he then sent full-back Ben McIntosh racing down the right to score an unconverted try.

Five minutes into the second half and our advantage was extended to 17-10. Again, Coulon broke forward with support coming from Sam Ludgate and the tighthead offloaded for hooker Alan Cawston to score.

An absolute belter of a contest then went down to the wire and with five minutes remaining, Marlow scored a deserved try, with the conversion levelling the match.

A fair result, and next up for our Wildboys is a trip to Thatcham on Saturday.

Wildboys: McIntosh, Chapman, Prosser, Angell, Graham, F Jones, Coulon; Crockford, Cawston, Ludgate, Inman, S Jones, Latham, Alexander, Hope.
Reps: Hanson, Hackshaw, Nichols.