Nine-try Chinnor overcome Worthing to stay top

Chinnor dug deep to run in nine tries and beat Worthing Raiders to remain at the summit of National Two South after Round 14.

The league leaders played 50 minutes of the game with 14-men, but still thumped Worthing to stay three points clear at the top of this division.

Second placed Old Elthamians got their job done as they saw off Bury St Edmunds to stay in the title race while a late-try for Bishops Stortford kept them in the picture thanks to a victory over the Redingensians.

Elsewhere, Taunton Titans are still in with a shout of a top two place after their win away at Redruth while Canterbury made it six in a row. Down at the bottom, Henley Hawks moved out of the relegation zone due to a crucial win over the London Irish Wild Geese.

Chinnor 57-10 Worthing Raiders

National Two South leaders Chinnor returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Worthing Raiders, despite being reduced to 14-men.

Chinnor did have a slender 12-10 lead by half-time after Steve Castle and Nathan Hannay had both crossed, but the hosts did have their captain Danny Barnes sent-off which allowed Worthing back into this game via a Dan Sargent try.

However, any optimism Worthing may have had was dashed four minutes into the second period as Chinnor began a haul of seven tries without reply. The first came from Tom Burns before Gus Jones followed him over to give Matt Williams’ side a 24-10 lead.

Sam Angell, Kieron Goss, Bevon Armitage, Jamie Townsend and Hannay again all crossed in the second period to complete a wonderful performance by Chinnor.

Bury St Edmunds 21-31 Old Elthamians

The Old Elthamians remain in the top two in this division after holding out to secure a victory over Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

First-half tries from Max Wilkins, Ian Kench and Tom Parker had given them a 14-point half-time lead, and it could’ve have been more after the break, but referee Thomas Davis refused to award the OEs a Penalty Try.

However the try eventually did come through Harry Ledger to put the visitors in complete control of this contest, but Bury then started to mount a comeback.

A Penalty Try and a yellow-card to Andy Sullivan boosted Bury’s confidence that they could get something from this game, but White slotted over another three points to give the OEs some breathing space.

But it was only brief rest bite as Liam McBride darted over to reduce the deficit to 10 points. Sam Sterling thought he had gone over moments later for the hosts, but it was ruled out for a forward pass meaning the OEs held on to a vital win which keeps them firmly in the promotion race.

Redingensians 24-25 Bishops Stortford

Nick Hankin scored a late try to snatch victory for Bishops Stortford against the Redingensians.

The visitors led 13-7 at half time after tries from Ryan Hutler and Will Simmonds, while Ben Henderson crossed for the Rams.

The Redingensians’ Greg Ilingworth and Hutler traded tries before Jak Rossiter dotted down in the corner to give the home side a 24-20 lead with only a few minutes on the clock remaining.

The Rams’ defence was holding firm and they looked set to hang on until Hankin exploited the overlap to dive over and secure Stortford’s eighth win in their last nine matches.

Redruth 18-22 Redruth

Taunton Titans secured their first ever win at the Recreation Ground as they narrowly beat Redruth in Cornwall.

A score from Chris Fuca and a Penalty Try forged a five-point lead for the home side at half-time.

Taunton, whose first half score had come from Dan Frost, went ahead in this contest as Gary Kingdom slotted over a penalty before Frost darted over for his second of the afternoon and his eighth try in his last five appearances.

Two Angus Taylor penalties then edged Redruth back in front in this pulsating game and when Conor Harbison was yellow-carded for Taunton, everything was pointing in the direction of another home win for the Reds.

But it wasn’t to be as a try from scrum-half Lewis Webb secured victory for Taunton who are now five points off the top two after their third straight win.

Barnes 8-38 Canterbury

Canterbury sealed their sixth-straight victory as the City Men eased past Barnes to continue their impressive recent form.

The away side found themselves 26-8 up at the break thanks to scores from Sam Kenny, Martyn Beaumont, Aiden Moss and JJ Murray, while Gareth Williams-Davis went over for the hosts.

Barnes were struggling to gain a foothold in this game and the pressure got to them as they received a yellow-card in the second period which Canterbury took full advantage of.

Dan Smart dotted down his 10^th try of the season before Moss grabbed his second score late on to put the icing on the cake for Canterbury.

Cinderford 29-10 Barnstaple

Cinderford extended their unbeaten run to four matches as they saw off Barnstaple with a solid performance.

Cinderford wing Harrison Yorke scampered through a gap to open the scoring before Rob Winchle went over to give the hosts a 12-0 half-time lead.

The home side then maintained their 12 point advantage as Liam Hemming and Jordan Petherbridge exchanged penalties before the Gloucestershire side added to their lead as Harry Robinson dived over.

Petherbridge then claimed Barnstaple’s first try of the afternoon from close range and the experienced fly-half added the conversion.

However, some crisp handling put Yorke in for his second shortly after to wrap up another win for Cinderford who are ending the first-half of the season strongly.

Exmouth 21-34 Clifton

Clifton made it back to back wins as they began December with a stylish victory over a spirited Exmouth side in Devon.

Max Woodward (2), Andy Uren and Thomas all crossed the line for the South Gloucestershire side, but they did survive a scare in this contest.

Having led 24-7 at half—time, Clifton’s lead was cut to three points just after the hour thanks to two quick fire tries, but the Lavender and Blacks were able to compose themselves and grind out the win. The defeat now leaves Exmouth eight points from safety as they remain at the foot of this division.

Henley Hawks 25-24 London Irish Wild Geese

Louis Flynn scored a late try as Henley Hawks came from behind to overcome a valiant London Irish Wild Geese side.

Wild Geese led 10-0 thanks to a try from Matthew Killeen and five points from the boot of Ollie Turner before Stuart Phillpott reduce their advantage with the Hawks’ first try just before the break.

George Jackson narrowed the gap further with a penalty just after the interval, but all their hard work was undone when Tyler Bush crossed for the away sides’ second score of the afternoon.

Kerry O’Sullivan was then yellow-carded for the visitors and Henley capitalised on the extra man immediately as Connor Haywhow touched down.

Despite the Wild Geese now being on the back foot, they once again extended their lead as Ben Kitching’s converted try gave them an 11 point lead.

The pendulum then swung back in the Hawks’ favour as Marcus Lowe crossed and the home side continued to press for the winner which eventually came as Flynn barged his way over to snatch the win late on.