DAN George is calling on Chinnor to learn from their second half performance against Rotherham Titans.

The Thame-based side lost 26-24 in a first home defeat of the season.

It saw them slip to seventh in National League 1, but remain within six points of leaders Richmond.

Tries from Jason Worrall (2), Ofisa Treviranus and Sam Yawayawa helped Chinnor, who picked up two bonus points in the defeat, lead 24-18 at the break.

Rotherham opened up a

two-point lead seven minutes after the restart, before a dogged defensive effort prevented the hosts from making the most of their possession and territory.

George, Chinnor’s head coach, said: “In the first half we played some of the best rugby I’ve seen here in the last 18 months.

“And to put in a second half performance like that is very frustrating.

“But credit where credit is due, Rotherham came here with a specific game plan and they executed it well.”

George added: “I think we tried to score too often off the first two or three phases, as opposed to building an attack.

“But that is just something we have to learn from.

“We showed in the first half when we went four, five, six phases that we were able to create opportunities.

“I think in the second half we managed to get over three phases twice, so it’s just little things like that we need to progress and develop within our game.”

Treviranus, Yawayawa and Worrall crossed to put Chinnor 17-6 in front after 29 minutes, but there was a frantic end to the first period.

Rotherham scored two tries in as many minutes to go a point ahead, but the hosts struck again through Worrall to make it 24-18.

George added: “Their second try was just a mental lapse from the kick-off – one missed tackle and the guy broke through.

“To concede 14 points in the space of two minutes was very frustrating, but I thought we’d put ourselves back in a good place at half-time.”

  • OXFORD University continued their Varsity Match preparations with an accomplished 31-0 victory over the Army at Iffley Road.

Tom Stileman was a cut above the rest as the winger ran in a hat-trick of tries, taking his tally for the season into double figures.

George Messum and Charlie Pozniak also scored, while Tom Humberstone kicked three conversions.

They take on Bristol Bears A at Clifton RFC tomorrow (7.15).

  • WITNEY Angels beat Dudley 28-22 in the Women’s National Championship 2 Midlands (South).

Becks Lidell (2), Emma Pallister and Ellie Lewis all touched down.