Chinnor trailed Taunton Titans for much of their National 2 South encounter before coming good to clinch a 29-19 win in the final quarter.

The home side began well and constant pressure in the Taunton 22 eventually led to a kick downfield which was caught by Leo Fielding, who exchanged passes with Henry Colver before touching down in the corner.

Taunton quickly replied with a try from winger Aaron Struminski in the corner, Gary Kingdom’s conversion putting them 7-5 up in the 22nd minute. The Somerset side again used their backs to good effect when, from a scrum in the Chinnor 22, Struminski went over in the same corner for his second try.

Colver reduced Chinnor’s deficit with a penalty, Taunton going in 12-8 up at half-time.

Chinnor went further behind four minutes into the second half when a pass was intercepted and handed on for Struminski to complete his hat-trick under the Chinnor posts. Kingdom’s conversion made it 18-8.

A deluge of rain seemed to benefit Chinnor more than their visitors, Colver cutting the deficit with another penalty. Straight from the re-start, Matt Goode caught the ball and weaved through the Taunton defence to dot down under the posts. Colver’s conversion meant Taunton’s lead was cut to 19-18.

The Titans continued to hassle and harry, but were guilty of giving away too many penalties and Colver benefited from these indiscretions, slotting penalties in the 67th and 73rd minutes. And with the referee poised to blow for full time, Ian Stock picked up a loose ball from a lineout and, like a ten-pin bowling ball, scattered defenders on a 20-metre charge to the line for a try to complete the scoring.

Henley Hawks surrendered the leadership and slipped to fourth after a 25-22 defeat away to Dings Crusaders.