CHINNOR endured a disappointing day at the office as Bishop’s Stortford triumphed 23-19 at Kingsey Road.

The visitors were good value for their win, dominating up front in miserable conditions as the Thame side suffered a fifth home defeat in National League 1.

As a result, Chinnor missed out on a chance to close the gap to the top of the table, with Rosslyn Park and Cinderford both losing.

The hosts took the lead on seven minutes when Morgan Veness was driven over for an unconverted try, but they could not make further territory count as Stortford grew into the game.

Ollie Betteridge scampered over off the back of a lineout to level the contest at 5-5, before Tom Walker’s penalty put the visitors 8-5 up after 25 minutes.

Chinnor responded well to retake the lead on the half-hour when Will Millett crossed for his fourth try in as many games, Caolan Ryan converting from the touchline to make it 12-8.

But Stortford headed into the break one point ahead as they capitalised off another set-piece, Dan Powell crossing.

The visitors dominated the start of the second period and Harrison King touched down, before Joss Linney scored their bonus-point try on the hour mark to make it 23-12.

Chinnor set up a tense finale when Max Clementson dived over off the back of a driving maul, Ryan converting to reduce the deficit to four points.

However, Stortford defended well to see out victory.

Henley Hawks also missed the chance to move closer to the summit after in-form Leicester Lions ended their four-game winning run in National 2 South.

Isaac Thompson’s try put the visitors ahead, with Ben Young adding a conversion and a penalty.

Hawks trailed 10-6 thanks to two Cail Cookland penalties, before Ethan Godefroy and Reuben Norville traded converted tries.

Young then went over to make it 24-13 at the break.

Lions wing Jake Sterland crossed twice before Hawks No 8 Alex Bradley emulated his opponent, with Cookland adding a try and conversion of his own.

It earned two bonus points for fifth-placed Hawks.

Witney edged out Grove 12-7 in South West 1 East, while Oxford Quins thrashed Buckingham 76-10.

They remain second behind Banbury Bulls, who won 54-17 at Windsor.

In Southern Counties North, Gosford All Blacks and Bicester drew 18-18, while Wallingford beat Thatcham 43-14.