Chinnor 19, Canterbury 53

Chinnor were outclassed by a dynamic Canterbury side whose back three posed a massive threat throughout this National 3 South clash.

Canterbury were stronger and faster than Chinnor, who were on the back foot for most of the match.

But the hosts did improve after the break and were unlucky not to gain a four-try bonus point.

With relegation rivals Lydney and Havant both losing, it is as you were for Chinnor, who had fly half James Cathcart back from injury for the first time since October.

Chinnor felt they got the worst of National League debutant referee Andrew Gaynor’s decisions.

Gaynor’s cause was not helped by there being no radio microphones for him to contact his touch judges.

Wing Michael Melford opened the scoring on four minutes after Canterbury created an overlap and their impressive full back Gert De Kock converted from wide out.

De Kock added a penalty on eight minutes as his side dominated.

The pressure continued, almost relentlessly, and it was no surprise when No 8 Cristoff Blom powered over on the right after 18 minutes.

Chinnor’s best spell of the half finally saw them complete a few phases.

They gave themselves hope on the half hour when wing Chris Mahony finished strongly and Cathcart converted.

It was game over by half-time, however, with De Kock slotting a penalty and converting superb tries from centre Pat Sykes and skipper Chris Hinkins.

Any hope of a Chinnor comeback was snuffed out on 48 minutes when their former scrum half Luke Harding went over after taking a quick penalty, with De Kock converting for 39-7.

The home fans were increasingly laying into Gaydon and their anger was only increased when he failed to penalise Canterbury prop Mark Livesey for a deliberate knock-on.

Chinnor scrum half Toby Prescott was lively throughout, and when he was stopped just short on 58 minutes, replacement hooker Arthur Ellis wriggled through to score.

Cathcart converted and a third try soon looked on.

But Canterbury punished a knock-on from prop Ian Stock as Chinnor pressed hard, with De Kock leading the counter attack and finishing at a canter.

De Kock converted this and a second score from Melford, who latched onto another error, after 74 minutes.

Chinnor produced a rousing finale with Stock just held up following a slick line-out move.

They managed a third try late on from centre Darren Oxley, but couldn’t grab a bonus point despite Canterbury replacement Chris Tytherleigh and Hinkins both being yellow-carded.

Hinkins was binned for blocking a quick tap close to the goal line, which may have led to a penalty try from other referees, as it was not the visitors’ first infringement.

Chinnor: Hewitt, Mahony, Powell, Oxley, Serrano, Cathcart (R Williams 60), Prescott (Rowley 75), Stock, Stennings (Ellis 54), Eckert (Winpenny 54), Hutchings (capt), Payne, Hastings (Jones 63), M Williams, Wright.

Referee: A Gaynor (London).

Chinnor man-of-the-match: Prescott.