MATT Williams was full of praise for his Chinnor players as they dug deep to secure a dramatic 28-27 triumph at home to Cinderford.

Laurence May converted Will Harries’s try in the last play to earn the Oxfordshire side a bonus-point win in a physical National League 1 contest.

Having dominated most of the second half it was the least Chinnor deserved, but they had to persevere to eventually overcome a heroic Cinderford defence.

The game played out exactly how Williams imagined and the director of rugby was delighted to see his side emerge on the winning side.

He said: “I’ve got to give huge credit to Cinderford’s defence – it was stellar.

“They kept us out time after time after time and eventually we got over in the corner, but obviously Loz May had to seriously keep his nerve for a difficult kick.

“Much credit to Laurence, but also much credit to our team for keeping going until the death.

“Weaker teams would have rolled over and lost and I’m really proud of the boys, they did a sterling job.”

The result helped Chinnor close the gap to third-placed Rosslyn Park, who lost at Plymouth Albion, to four points.

It came seven days after the Thame-based side won 30-17 at Bishop’s Stortford and Williams believes momentum is building within his squad.

He said: “Backed on from the confidence of last week, to beat Cinderford by one point is all I could ask.

“To come away with a bonus-point win is delightful.

“We’ve taken ten points from two games.

“You can see the confidence and camaraderie in the boys and we’ve just got to keep rolling now.

“It’s solely about worrying about ourselves and taking each game as it comes, but make no bones about it that was a huge win for us and I’m proud of the boys.”

Chinnor’s fate rested on May’s kick, but the fly half kept his head to convert from the touchline.

He said: “It was great. I didn’t think I’d put enough on it at one point.

“We’ve got some great personalities at the club and it’s just great to get everyone around (at the end) and that feeling afterwards is just incredible.

“When we’re winning and playing great rugby, it’s one of the most enjoyable places to be.”