TWO tries apiece from Joe Dancer and debutant Jake Ashby helped Chinnor earn a 29-19 home win over basement boys Hull Ionians.

The Thame-based side never lost the lead in an energy-sapping National League 1 fixture, but the visitors made sure they were in a game.

Chinnor’s win came at a cost, though, with George Oliver and Dancer forced off injured.

It did not take long for the hosts to open the scoring, two tries from lock Dancer helping them into a 12-0 lead after 13 minutes, Laurence May converting the first.

Chinnor extended their advantage to 19 points on 33 minutes when Ashby dived over, with May adding the extras.

However, Tim Wakadu’s try, Seremaia Turagabeci converting, cut the home side’s lead to 12 at the break.

Hull started the second period in the same vein and Ben Bell was driven over to further reduce the arrears.

Chinnor looked to have regained control when Ashby crossed again for the four-try bonus point, May converting, to make it 26-12.

But sustained pressure from Hull led to Ben Whyte diving over, Marco Fummo adding the extras, to reduce the deficit to seven points with six minutes to play.

Chinnor needed to control the final stages and they did exactly that when May kicked a late penalty to make sure of victory.

Henley Hawks remain top of National 2 South after thrashing Bournemouth 66-24.

Sam Lunnon was the Oxfordshire side’s hat-trick hero and his first-half double, along with tries from Ewan Fenley, Scott White and George Wood, put Hawks 35-10 up at the break.

All five tries in the opening period were converted, as were scores from Elliot McPhun and two from prop Brad Cook early in the second half.

Bournemouth replied with their second converted try, before Lunnon touched down for his third.

Alex Bradley added another on 62 minutes, meaning a late reply from the visitors was scant consolation.