RAMS slipped to a first National One defeat in five games as Chinnor deservedly won their top-of-the-table clash 21-7 at Kingsey Road.
The opening stages proved fairly even with both sides feeling each other out, but it was Rams who hit the front as they showed their scrum power by winning one against the head on their opponents’ 22.
The ball was subsequently shuffled right, and following a couple of pick-and-goes, Ben Atkins was able to creep over the line for a score added to by Fraser Honey.
The visitors had a chance to extend their lead shortly afterwards, but were penalised on the five-metre line before Chinnor made them pay in ruthless fashion.
A couple of rolling mauls, aided by another penalty, took them into Rams’ 22, and following a barrage of assaults near the line, the ball was shipped right where man-of-the-match scrum-half Luke Carter dived across the whitewash.
George Worboys landed a superb touchline conversion to level matters, and his side could have taken the lead only to be held up under the posts.
Chinnor were beginning to come on strong as the half-hour mark passed, and things got worse for the visitors when Charlie Robson was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on in midfield.
Worboys made a rare mistake as his kick to the corner was too long, but the hosts were soon back in Rams’ 22 and hit the front with the final play of the first half.
Rams did well to repel a maul and a couple of pick-and-goes, but their opponents patiently worked away before sending James Bourton over, Worboys with the extras for 14-7.
And Chinnor struck first after the interval, hoovering up a loose ball near halfway before surging forward.
While the visitors again defended manfully, the sizable frame of Connor Brockschmidt barged over for his side’s third try.
Another successful conversion extended the advantage to 14 points, and try as they might, Rams just couldn’t gain a foothold in the contest.
Coming up against the league’s tightest defence, the odd handling error stifled the rare moments when they built momentum, although a scrum penalty against the head gave them hope with 10 minutes remaining.
However, there attempts to tap-and-go on two occasions from five metres out failed to bear fruit, and when a turnover was kicked clear, their hopes were all but ended.
Chinnor pressed for a fourth try and bonus-point, but they were thwarted as they had to settle for a three-point lead at the summit.
By Richard Ashton
