CHINNOR captain Paul Hennessy has temporarily stepped down due to work and family pressures.

The Welsh No 8 played for Chinnor 3rd on Saturday alongside centre Darren Oxley, who is also taking time out from their first team.

Lock Matt Hutchins took over from Hennessy in their defeat at Havant, but the club stressed there was no rift.

Chinnor president Kenny Vaughan said: "Paul's wife is heavily pregnant and I guess he feels it would be difficult to commit himself totally.

"Darren hasn't had it too good recently with injuries. He feels he needs a short rest.

"Things have been exacerbated a bit by the fact that we've taken a few hidings.

"The step up from South West 1 to National 3 is huge.

"All the teams we have played so far say it is a massively difficult league and their main aim is to stay in it.

"What we've got to do is win a fair share of our home games."