Chinnor 33, Newton Abbot 5

TWO quick tries before half-time ensured Chinnor stayed top of National 3 South West with a bonus-point victory.

Fly half James Cathcart and man-of-the-match Pip Seymour struck in a three-minute burst, but Chinnor were pushed hard by opponents who began the day fourth.

Newton Abbot’s pack dominated much of the first period, especially in the scrums and it was to Chinnor’s credit that they stabilised this set-piece after the break.

Newton Abbot wing Matt Dayment kicked straight out of play in the first minute and his side could not regroup before Chinnor scored.

Full back Henry Colver took an improvised pass from centre Matt Goode and motored over for Cathcart to convert.

Abbot hit back straight away after Chinnor centre Sam Stoop repeated Dayment’s error. Within a minute, hooker Tom Channon’s pace and power brought him the visitors’ opening try.

Chinnor were threatening some great back play, but moves kept breaking down.

Referee Luke Haskins penalised them after one such incident on 17 minutes and marched them back ten metres for dissent.

Goode continued to protest and was sin-binned, but his side scored again while down to 14 men.

Flanker Harry Jackman stole a line-out, the ball was quickly spun wide and wing Ken Prinsloo applied the finish on the left.

Chinnor’s third try came via a kind bounce of the ball, which allowed industrious flanker Nick Harrison to collect and send Cathcart cantering over on 37 minutes.

Cathcart converted his own score and Seymour’s first on 39 minutes, which he finished with aplomb after No 8 Liam Gilbert’s break.

Trailing 26-5 at the resumption, Abbot needed a quick start, but Chinnor showed discipline and tenacity in defence.

At the other end, Seymour, Gilbert, from a driving maul, and Stoop all went close.

However, on the hour mark, Seymour, who impressed every time he got the ball, finally rewarded Chinnor’s territorial advantage with try No 5 on the right, expertly converted by Cathcart.

Chinnor: Colver, Seymour, Goode, Stoop (R Williams 64), Prinsloo, Cathcart, Jones, Winpenny (capt), Tattersall, Pickett (Whelan 64), Mowbray, Smith, Jackman (Ramsdale 28), Harrison, Gilbert.

Referee: L Haskins (Warwickshire).

Man-of-the-match: Seymour.