CHINNOR produced a battling display to start their National League 1 campaign with a 17-15 victory at Blackheath.

And Henley Hawks also hit the ground running in National League 2 South thanks to a 46-5 home win over Sutton & Epsom.

Chinnor had to be patient, with second-half tries from Tom Fidler and Ofisa Treviranus proving enough as they dug deep to see off their spirited hosts.

Chinnor opened up a 3-0 lead on five minutes, thanks to Laurence May’s penalty.

Blackheath’s Danny Herriott was then sin-binned, but the visitors were unable to make the most of their man advantage.

It took the home side 28 minutes to get out of their own half and they punished Chinnor for not adding to their tally.

Joe Dancer knocked on from a line-out and Jack Daly darted over, Mark Cooke converting, to put Blackheath 7-3 ahead.

Chinnor started the second half strongly and scored two tries in the space of seven minutes through Fidler and Treviranus, May converting both.

But Blackheath refused to lie down as Alex Pickersgill’s unconverted try reduced the arrears.

Cooke’s penalty cut the visitors’ lead to two points, but Chinnor saw the game out.

Henley roared out of the traps and made the points safe well before half-time.

Jack Robinson ran in a hat-trick during a terrific opening half-hour.

Liam O’Neill and David Hyde also touched down to put the hosts 34-0 ahead at the break.

Their pack drove over for the sixth try early in the second half, before Epsom’s sole reply.

But Hawks had the final say, with Hyde and Ewan Fenley diving over to seal an emphatic victory.