CHINNOR left the Wirral with three points after a frustrating 27-27 draw at Caldy.

It looked like the Oxfordshire side were going to claim a bonus-point victory when Bader Pretorius slotted a 76th-minute penalty, only for Ben Jones to hit back moments later to draw the National League 1 fixture.

Chinnor still left Paton Field with three points, helping them stay fourth in the table, nine points behind leaders Cinderford but with a game in hand.

The visitors made an excellent start to lead 19-3 after 18 minutes, thanks to tries from Ryan Crowley, Rob Hardwick and Cameron Terry – James Bourton converting twice.

But Chinnor let their foot off the gas and the hosts gained confidence.

Michael Barlow forced his way over on 24 minutes, before Nicholas Royle’s fine individual try – Jones, who kicked the home side’s early penalty, converting both – cut the deficit to two points at the break.

Caldy made an electric start to the second half and Royle touched down for the second time – Jones adding the extras – to put them 24-19 in front.

Chinnor re-established control and levelled the game at 24-all when Bourton dived over for an unconverted try on 64 minutes.

Pretorius and Jones then both held their nerve as it ended all-square.

In National 2 South, Henley Hawks claimed their third bonus-point win in a row as they beat Esher 31-21 at Dry Leas.

James Love’s penalty opened the scoring, before a penalty try and a yellow card for visiting No8 Charlie Gossington put the hosts in control.

Tom Emery and Reuben Norville crossed either side of half-time, Love twice adding the extras, to put Henley 24-0 up.

The full-back kicked the two points following Sam Lunnon’s try, after Esher got on the board with a converted score.

They managed two more converted tries as the home side relaxed in the final quarter.

Hawks are ninth in the table, but have two games in hand on most of the division.

In South West 1 East, Oxford Harlequins beat Witney 32-24 to maintain their perfect start to the season and ensure their opponents remain winless.

Second-placed Banbury Bulls beat Frome 45-12, while Grove were defeated 33-24 at Windsor.

Bicester lost 30-18 at Reading in Southern Counties North, while Wallingford went down 25-17 to hosts Reading Abbey.

Gosford All Blacks lost 21-11 to Aylesbury.

CHINNOR Kites marked their home league debut with a 46-19 win over Greyhound.

Milo Cohen (2), Emma O’Hara (2), Emma Pallister, Emily Partridge, Louise Aaron and Steffi Clarke crossed in the Women’s NC 2 South West (North) fixture.