Chinnor 10, Hartpury 36

The scoreline may not be too flattering, but Chinnor can be proud of their efforts in this National 3 South West clash at Kingsey Road.

Already reporting 16 injured players and five unavailable, they lost another three as a talented Hartpury side took full advantage to go top again and Chinnor’s unbeaten home record fell.

Chinnor had the better of the opening half hour, but suffered a major blow as fly half James Cathcart and centre James Serrano both went off following a clash of heads.

As much as the hosts battled, even at full strength they may have struggled to contain Hartpury who included Wales and Lions prop Darren Morris and Welsh international No 8 Nathan Thomas.

Chinnor hardly had a touch before full back James Love kicked Hartpury ahead with a fourth-minute penalty.

The visitors couldn’t build on this as Chinnor’s backs got going.

Wing Pip Seymour, with brother and Sale flanker Dave watching on, forced a five-metre scrum with a chip over the top, but his forwards were thwarted in their pick-and-drive efforts.

Chinnor also had brothers on the field in full back Tristan and wing Baz Corpe, who combined well at times.

Cathcart levelled with a long-range penalty on 20 minutes and looked set for another soon afterwards, but his cross-kick caught Hartpury napping and Seymour was illegally impeded by Thomas.

Referee Chris Bartlett played a good advantage and Chinnor quickly recycled for Tristan Corpe to score, Cathcart converting.

Chinnor deserved their 10-3 lead, but the double injury blow upset their defensive alignment.

Hartpury came on strong and No 9 Brad Field broke well from a scum to bag the first of a try double.

Love converted this and Field’s second, a minute into the second half, which saw the scrum half run in an interception from halfway.

This must have hurt the hosts, but with flanker-turned-centre Adam Hastings driving them on, they did not wilt.

Hartpury were awarded a penalty try, converted by Love, on 55 minutes after Bartlett penalised the Chinnor scrum, much to the home fans’ derision.

Chinnor still had their moments, including a strong Hastings break, but Hartpury finished very strongly.

An injury to hooker Simon Tattersall saw Chinnor go down to 14 men and uncontested scrums as replacement Alan Cawston had hurt his back.

Lock Phillip Hoy dived over on the left and centre Jack Hayes notched Hartpury’s fifth try on the right, Love converting.

Chinnor: T Corpe, Seymour, Goode, Serrano (Green 35), B Corpe, Cathcart (Cawston 35), Hopwood, Winpenny (capt), Tattersall, Pickett (Berry 65), Jackman, Smith, Hastings, Harrison, Mowbray.

Referee: C Bartlett (Dorset & Wilts).

Chinnor man-of-the-match: Hastings.