NATIONAL 2 SOUTH

CHINNOR missed a chance to put real daylight between themselves and the relegation zone after losing 47-31 at home to London Irish Wild Geese.

Victory over drop-zone rivals Wild Geese could have left Chinnor seven points clear of trouble, but they did at least earn a four-try bonus point to help their cause.

Wild Geese controlled the opening exchanges to lead 13-0 after 14 minutes.

Wing Freddie Berridge and fly half Ed Keohane went over for tries, with full back Oscar Thomas slotting a penalty, but they had flanker Joe Hoare sin-binned.

Chinnor hit back strongly, with flanker Harry Betts scoring first and then fly half Will Millett finishing a slick move.

Millett converted his own try, but Wild Geese responded to lead 27-12 at the break.

Prop Tom Smallbone and replacement flanker Chris Browne bagged tries, with Thomas converting both.

No 8 Sam McKinney’s pushover try, converted by Thomas, extended their lead on 47 minutes.

However, Wild Geese messed up a line-out on halfway, allowing Betts to power through and release Millett for his second converted try.

The visitors’ line-out worked well on 57 minutes, with hooker Scott Tolmie peeling off to score.

Keohane’s drop goal made it 42-19 before McKinney was yellow-carded.

Chinnor hooker Jamie Townsend went over for their fourth try, while No 8 Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas raced over for a fifth, converted by Millett.

In the dying minutes, summing up their day, Chinnor threw straight to Tolmie, who sauntered to the line for Geese’s final try, despite them having replacement Ryan Dingle sin-binned.