Chinnor 7, Old Patesians 25

For the second time this season Chinnor were well-beaten at home by a side challenging for the National 3 South West title.

But unlike their capitulation to Taunton, this was a battling if error-strewn effort.

Old Patesians led 18-0 at the break having had a strong wind behind them, and then defended with real grit and organisation.

When fly half James Cathcart scored and converted his try on 53 minutes, there looked to be genuine hope for the home side.

But they never cleared the ball from the restart and Old Pats struck again decisively.

Despite Old Pats fly half Adam Seager slotting penalties after seven and 13 minutes, things looked fairly good for Chinnor.

They appeared even better nine minutes later as Sam Jones led the charge into the visiting 22.

But Jones’s fellow flanker Adam Hastings went for a speculative off-load and Old Pats stole the ball.

Outside centre Steven Bryant led the charge out and found wing Henry Bird, who managed to off-load as he was hauled down just short.

A desperate scramble ensued after a Chinnor hand knocked the ball into the goal area – and it bounced kindly for inside centre Ben Parker to touch down, Seager converting.

Chinnor kept throwing the ball around and only a superb gather by full back Alex Wallace prevented another breakaway score from the visitors.

The hosts may well have accepted a 13-0 deficit at the break, but Parker’s powerful finish gave Old Pats a second try and clear water.

Cathcart missed a long-range penalty early in the second half, but his side struggled to gain momentum.

Often gains in ground would be followed by loose passes and lost initiative, with No 8 Tom Mowbray’s 49th-minute effort a case in point.

A ‘show and go’ from Cathcart finally yielded the breakthrough and he had enough strength to get over the line.

Just when they needed to focus, Chinnor could not secure kick-off – although Old Pats were fortunate to be awarded a knock-on off a knee.

Old Pats surged forward and scored a vital try when No 8 James Pettigrew latched on to scrum half Darren Moore’s inside pass and powered over for Seager to convert.

Chinnor now had all the territory, but their errors and disciplined defence meant they could not add to their tally, lock Sam Black being forced out from their best move.

Chinnor: Wallace, Farr, R Williams (capt), J Hewitt, Seymour (B Hewitt 60), Cathcart, Prescott, Winpenny, Cawston, Pickett (Matthews 80), Jackman, Black, Jones, Hastings, Mowbray (Gilbert 58).

Referee: S Penfold (N Yorkshire).

Chinnor man-of-the-match: Jones.