SAM Angell was both hero and villain in Chinnor’s astonishing 29-29 draw at home to Henley Hawks.

After scoring an injury-time try to draw Chinnor level, the fly half, who suffered an injury while scoring, scuffed the conversion to leave the Oxfordshire rivals level after a dramatic contest.

The result means that Chinnor drop from first to third in National League 2 South ahead of the Christmas break, as they were overtaken by new leaders Bishop’s Stortford and Old Elthamians.

Hawks were clearly fired up for the contest in front of a huge crowd of 850.

But Chinnor struck first with a try from full back Kieran Goss, who broke through two tackles to score near the posts, Angell converting.

This was followed by some intense Henley pressure, which led to their first try by left wing Simon Perry.

Straight from the restart a penalty by Angell increased the Chinnor lead – and this was indicative of the nip and tuck nature of the game.

The Henley lineout was sound and a rolling maul following a clean catch by Henley captain Dave Clement led to a well-worked try by hooker Tom Emery to make it 10-10 after 30 minutes.

The game then swung towards Chinnor when flanker Alex Bradley, on loan from Ealing Trailfinders, scooped up the ball and ran in from ten metres following a Nathan Hannay break. Angell converted to give the hosts a 17-10 interval lead.

The second half started dramatically, when Henley kicked through following a Chinnor handling error in midfield and centre Liam O’Neill touched down.

The try was converted by George Jackson which levelled the scores again.

Chinnor’s scrum piled on the pressure and this led to a try for lock Hannay, Angell again converting.

The sin-binning of Chinnor lock Ross Parkins boosted Henley, who made the most of the extra man when Emery went over for his second try.

Chinnor’s problems were compounded when hooker Koree Britton was carded for foul play. Henley seized the initiative and after a rolling maul was pulled down illegally, the visitors were awarded a penalty try. Jackson converted to put Henley 29-24

ahead

In the dying minutes and with the vocal home support calling for one last effort, Chinnor moved the ball from one end of the park to the other and Angell crashed over, but his conversion attempt sailed wide.

Hawks may have been denied victory, but had satisfaction from preventing Chinnor doing the double over them.