GREG Goodfellow’s nerveless penalty earned Chinnor a nail-biting 27-26 victory at home to Cambridge.

The replacement scrum-half slotted the three points with his first touch on 75 minutes as the Thame-based side recorded their first double in National League 1.

Victory saw Chinnor remain sixth, but they are now only five points behind second-placed Blackheath.

A Ben Penfold penalty put Cambridge ahead, but the hosts replied to lead 5-3, when Josh Hodson crossed.

The advantage soon changed hands again, though, as Mike Ayrton crossed for the visitors, Penfold converting, to make it 10-5.

A Penfold penalty extended Cambridge’s lead to eight points after 16 minutes.

But the momentum shifted again, when Reon Joseph raced over from 80 metres, Craig Holland adding the extras.

Ed Hoadley and Dan George then crossed to make it 24-13 to Chinnor, Holland converting the former.

With the bonus-point already secured, the home side looked to extend their lead, but Cambridge held firm.

Instead, the visitors reduced the arrears to four points at the break, when Penfold’s penalty hit a post and Ayrton gathered the rebound, leading to Wade Schoeman barging over from a scrum, Penfold converting.

The second half proved a disruptive affair, but two Penfold penalties put Cambridge 26-24 in front with eight minutes to go.

However, Chinnor had other ideas and Goodfellow’s penalty regained the lead and secured victory.

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Two late tries proved Henley Hawks’ undoing as leaders Rams triumphed 19-12 in National League 2 South’s top-of-the-table clash.

The hosts had led 12-7 with five minutes to go in front of a 1,160-strong crowd at Dry Leas, but their four-match winning run was ended by the Sonning-based side, who now have a 13-point cushion.

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  • Henley's Liam O'Neill goes on the charge during his side's defeat to Rams Picture: Steve Karpa

Dan Barnes’s try put Henley 5-0 up.

But within five minutes of the second half, Rams were awarded a penalty try to take the lead.

A Roddy Giles penalty hit a post as Henley looked to reply.

And they were rewarded on 67 minutes when Dave Manning went over, Giles converting, to make it 12-7.

But with time running out, the leaders snatched victory when Jack Rossiter crossed twice, Alex Seers converting the first.