CHINNOR dug in to secure back-to-back home wins for the first time in ten months as they edged Bishop’s Stortford 33-29 in a thriller at Kingsey Road.

Mark Darlington’s try put the hosts 11 points in front with six minutes to go, but the visitors set up a tense finale when Will Roberts touched down.

The Hertfordshire side searched for another score, but Chinnor’s James Down brilliantly stole a line-out in the last play as they earned a bonus point win.

The visitors were the better team in the first half, but only led 15-14.

Chris Smith collected Dan Cole’s crossfield kick to score early on, but it was Chinnor who went 7-5 up after 27 minutes thanks to Willie Ryan’s converted try.

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A Cole penalty and Connor Lloyd try then put the visitors eight points in front, before Reece Marshall drove over at the back of a driving maul as Chinnor reduced Stortford’s lead to 14-15.

The hosts improved after the break, but the yo-yoing continued.

Kieran Goss dived over for Chinnor, only for Toby Tierney to charge down a clearance and dive over as Stortford led 22-19 after 53 minutes.

However, the hosts looked to have taken control of the contest when Marshall scored his second, before Darlington went over from another driving maul after three scrum penalties pinned Stortford in the corner and led to a yellow card for Tristan Smith.

The visitors almost immediately hit back through Roberts’ try and went in search of another to win the game, but Chinnor dug in to see the game out.

In National League 2 East, Henley Hawks weren’t in action and slipped to eighth.

Banbury are second from bottom in Regional 1 South Central after they were beaten 24-19 at Bracknell.

Oxford Quins also had the weekend off and are fifth.

Witney remain third in Regional 2 Tribute South Central despite a 27-17 defeat at Devizes.

Grove postponed all senior rugby at the weekend following personal news within the club.

Chinnor’s 3rd XV remain top of Counties 1 Tribute Southern North after handing out a 116-0 mauling at Swindon College Old Boys.

Bicester are third following their 40-19 win at home to Bracknell’s 2nd XV.

Wallingford are a place and seven points further back after a 25-3 victory at Bletchley.

Gosford All Blacks were awarded an away walk over at Thatcham.

The hosts posted online that the fixture was called off after they struggled to get enough ‘competent front row for that level’.