Chinnor suffered another kick in the teeth with this stoppage-time 20-14 defeat at home to Dings Crusaders in National 3 South on Saturday.

Having come so close to victories in recent weeks, they must have thought they were about to shade a 14-13 win.

They had withstood some serious pressure to secure a scrum in their own 22, four minutes into injury time – all they needed to do was secure the ball and clear.

But the Dings pack produced a mighty shove to take possession and drive forward.

Their resulting scrum looked like rumbling over the line before referee Richard Campbell awarded a penalty try as Chinnor illegally broke their bindings.

Fly half Adam Westall converted, and although the hosts pressed forward, they couldn’t avoid a demoral-ising defeat.

Chinnor had had their moments with wing James Serrano excelling in attack and defence, but could never retain possession for long enough to take control.

Fly half Ben Hewitt gave them the lead with a fifth-minute penalty, but they spent much of the opening exchanges battling in defence.

Chinnor were denied a good advantage when hooker Arthur Ellis went racing clear from his 22, but things got worse when No 8 Dave Jackson was sin-binned for stamping.

Dings’ pressure mounted and flanker Mitchell Quoi scored from close range, with Westall converting.

Oxley almost set up a try for Jackson, but the move was called back for a forward pass.

A second Hewitt penalty made it 7-6 and prompted Chinnor’s best period of the match.

And they struck out wide through Serrano, with full back Alex Wallace providing the scoring pass.

Chinnor maintained their momentum after the half-time break and gained a great position when flanker Max Williams pounced on a loose ball.

Dings were soon penalised and Hewitt made it 14-7.

But a risky tap penalty saw flanker Adam Hastings isolated and fail to release the ball. Westall kicked the penalty and Dings were right back in it.

A minute later, Chinnor introduced a new front row in James Eckert, Alan Cawston and Bob Baker.

Westall missed a penalty on 56 minutes, but was on target six minutes later to punish some sloppy Chinnor defence.

Dings skipper Michael Panoho was yellow-carded for flying into Jackson at a maul, but Chinnor couldn’t take advantage.

Hewitt missed a penalty and Ellis was held up.

Chinnor lacked composure as the clock ticked down before suffering the ultimate punishment.

Chinnor: Wallace (Shiel 60), R Williams, Powell, Oxley, Serrano, Hewitt, Prescott (Rowley 80), Winpenny (Eckert 48), Ellis, Whelan (Baker 48) Hutchings (capt), Jackman, Hastings, M Williams (Cawston 48), Jackson.

Referee: R Campbell (Worcestershire).

Chinnor man-of-the-match: Serrano.