Chinnor secured another prominent scalp when they over came hosts Dorking 6-5 in a mud-caked Natiojnal 2 South contest on Saturday.
Following their pre-Christmas victory over leaders Henley, Chinnor have now beaten the top two teams in successive matches.
The visitors won because they tailored their game to the dreadful conditions, while Dorking tried to play in their customary adventurous style which came unstuck in the mud.
Dorking scored early on with an unconverted try in the corner from Mike Duxbury.
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Chinnor played territory with intelligent use of the boot to keep the home side pinned back in their own half for much of the match.
Fly-half Sam Angell (pictured) scored from two of his three penalty goal attempts in the first half to give the visitors a 6-5 interval lead.
Although the rain actually stopped in the second half, the game was largely a grappling contest with Chinnor’s defence resolute with Alfie To’oala, Ben Manning and Ryan Long particularly industrious.
Chinnor comfortably held out in a scoreless second half notable for the positioning, kicking and running of full back Jake Olley which was a beacon of light on an otherwise dull, dank day.
Chinnor’s victory allowed Henley Hawks to go four points clear at the top with a 50-5 trouncing of lowly Lydney at Dry Leas.
Hawks led 12-5 at the break, but added six tries in the second half to grab the bonus point in style.
After scoring an early try through skipper Dave Clements, who was driven over following a line-out, the hosts were hit by an injury to flanker Tom Steindler, who had to go off with a dislocated shoulder seven minutes into his debut.
Another debutant, Jake O’Leary, stepped into the second row, with Will Woodward completing the resultant reshuffle by going to blindside flanker. Lydney levelled the scores with a try from centre Josh Innes.
Hawks regained the lead with an outstanding effort from full back Piers O’Conor, following a breathless swerving run. James Comben converted for a 12-5 interval lead.
Although they were handicapped by an injury to scrum half Connor Murphy, Hawks took charge of possession on the restart with their forwards dominating the scoring.
Prop Jimmy Litchfield was driven over for their third try by a dominant Henley pack who then secured a penalty try. Comben converted both for 24-5.
A yellow card to Clements for illegal use of the boot could not halt his side’s momentum as they scored further tries through Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas, O’Leary, George Edgson and replacement wing Jake Randall, Comben adding three conversions.
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