CHINNOR suffered their heaviest defeat of the season as Cambridge raced to a comfortable 41-3 victory at Volac Park.
The Oxfordshire side’s fifth straight loss came a week after a 42-17 drubbing at Darlington Mowden Park, leaving them seventh in National League 1 and 19 points adrift of the top six.
James Bourton’s 26th-minute penalty was Chinnor’s only score of the day as Richard Thorpe’s side failed to notch a try in a league fixture for the first time since February 2019.
One positive was a debut off the bench for homegrown prop Bradley Harewood, who first joined Chinnor as an Under 11.
Cambridge crossed twice against the run of play to lead 12-3 at the break, Ben Brownlie profiting from a charged down Luke Carter box-kick, before Kwaku Asiedu finished off a Harry Johnston break.
Cambridge’s set-piece provided them with a platform in the second period, while the visitors were ultimately punished for overplaying as they chased the game.
Brownlie’s second try extended the hosts’ lead to 14 points and as the contest wore on Chinnor’s mistakes were capitalised on.
Matt Dawson powered over for the four-try bonus-point on 66 minutes, before Joe Tarrant (2) and Jake McCloud crossed late on to inflict another defeat.
In National 2 South, Henley Hawks played out a thrilling 25-25 draw at Bury St Edmunds.
Alex Harmes, Sam Lunnon and James Davies crossed to give the visitors a 25-15 lead going into the closing stages, but the hosts clawed it back late on.
Henley stay fifth in the table.
Elsewhere, Bicester beat Shipston on Stour 22-15 in Southern Counties North.
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