Chinnor 32, Chippenham 13

Two tries from Richard Williams helped Chinnor to a workmanlike home victory in National 3 South West.

Chinnor scored five tries, with prop Ian Stock, hooker Alan Cawston and flanker Sam Jones all impressing up front, but never found top gear against committed opponents.

Chippenham are guaranteed to go down now, while Chinnor still have a decent chance of finishing third.

Chinnor were always going to find the first half tough with a strong wind against them, but they took the early initiative, with James Serrano’s strong run setting the tone.

On 12 minutes, quick hands from Stock kept the ball alive and Sam Stoop fed fellow centre Richard Williams to finish out wide.

The wind led to fly half James Cathcart missing all three of his first-half conversions.

But Chippenham full back Dave Slee kicked a 14th-minute penalty after wing Jon Squire’s scything run.

Chinnor’s set-pieces were strong throughout and a line-out provided the platform for try No 2 on 22 minutes.

The drive was just too powerful for Chippenham and lock Matt Hutchings applied the finishing touch.

Stoop showed strength and poise to score their third try on the right, which owed much to Serrano’s efforts on the other flank.

England under 18 wing Chris Elder had a quiet, but composed debut for the hosts and was forced out on the right just before the break.

Cathcart slotted a 42nd-minute penalty to make it 18-3.

It took Chinnor a long time to build on this as Chippenham had their best spell.

The visitors piled on the pressure and the defence finally cracked with centre Karl Brant breaking a soft tackle to score under the posts, but Slee missed the conversion.

A couple of sprightly runs from prop Tom Whelan re-ignited Chinnor and they looked set to score after a series of scrums and penalties awarded by increasingly whistle-happy referee Andy Atwell Visiting lock Adrian Price was sin-binned on 65 minutes.

Chinnor went for another catch-and-drive, with industrious flanker Max Williams gaining the touchdown and Cathcart converting.

Richard Williams, now on the wing, crossed for Chinnor’s fifth try after scrum half Toby Prescott forced an overlap and Cathcart converted from wide out.

Chippenham managed a late try on the left from wing Darren McMillan, while Chinnor’s best chance for No 6 saw Stoop penalised for crossing.

Chinnor: Wallace, Serrano (Green 66), R Williams, Stoop, Cathcart, Prescott, Stock, Cawston, Whelan (Winpenny 72), Hutchings (capt), Jackman, Jones, M Williams, Mowbray (Gilbert 66).

Referee: A Atwell (Midlands).

Man-of-the-match: Stock.