SEVERAL Oxfordshire clubs postponed their final games of 2021 as Covid decimated the fixture list.

Henley Hawks were the only county side in the top seven tiers to play, Luke Allen’s side drawing 17-17 at Barnes in National 2 South.

The teams were neck and neck from the first whistle to the last in a closely-fought clash in west London.

Rhyan Scott-Young crossed in the corner to put Hawks ahead after ten minutes, only for Barnes to make it 5-5 almost immediately after driving over following a lineout.

A converted try put the hosts ahead before the midway point of the half, but Will Crow’s converted effort ensured the sides went in 12-12 at the break.

The momentum swung in the first 20 minutes of the second period, with Henley’s early dominance ended when Matt Dalrymple was sin-binned.

Barnes went over for their third try just after the hour mark, but Hawks hit back again.

Samson Adejimi crossed ten minutes from time to ensure the visitors would not end 2021 with a defeat.

Henley will be fifth in the table on Christmas Day, eight points off leaders Redruth.

Meanwhile, Chinnor fell to sixth in National League 1 after Friday’s trip to Rams was postponed due to a Covid outbreak in their squad.

The Thame-based outfit has since announced Kingsey Road will be closed until December 29 to reduce the risk of potential infection.

All club and commercial activity is on hold, with only the HAF holiday camps and Powerhouse Performance Club remaining in operation.

A club statement read: “We are taking this action to give us the best possible opportunity to start afresh in the new year and make sure rugby activity can resume from Sunday, January 2.”

Four of the seven scheduled National League 1 games went ahead at the weekend.

Banbury Bulls will be top of South West 1 East on Christmas Day, although not in circumstances they would have hoped for.

Their trip to Beaconsfield was called off due to Covid concerns along with other senior matches, plus juniors and minis rugby.

The club’s Christmas social was also cancelled.

It was a similar story across the divisions, with Oxford Quins, Witney, Grove, Gosford All Blacks, Bicester and Wallingford all handed an unexpected blank weekend.