National 2 South

MARK Chase’s late try gave Chinnor a pulsating 33-29 victory at Launceston on their return to English rugby’s fourth tier.

Chinnor had prop Joe Pickett sin-binned for foul play after just 45 seconds and then trailed to a try from Lewis Patterson, who went on to bag a hat-trick, converted by Kieron Lewitt.

Fly half James Cathcart kicked a penalty and Chinnor full back Henry Colver then supported well to touch down, Cathcart converting.

On 24 minutes, a superb team try ended with wing Tom Gray scorching over for 15-7.

Launceston hit back with Patterson completing his treble either side of the break, while Lewitt added a conversion and a penalty.

Lewitt was yellow-carded for foul play and Chinnor capitalised when Sam Stoop slipped fellow centre Matt Goode on for try No 3, Cathcart converting for 22-22.

Cathcart’s second penalty made it 25-22, but a chargedown gave Launceston’s Richard Friend an easy try, which Lewitt converted.

Chinnor kept pressing and Cathcart slotted a penalty after Launceston’s Richard Bright was sin-binned.

The visitors completed their comeback on 78 minutes when a long miss pass found wing Chase at full tilt to score.

Liam O’Neill’s stunning hat-trick helped Henley Hawks beat Shelford 39-19 at Dry Leas.

The 18-year-old wing shone on his league debut and came close to scoring twice more in a clash that saw Henley hooker Ant Brennan and Shelford prop Luke Beales sent-off.

Fly half James Comben’s penalty put Henley ahead, before scrum half Jack Shaylor set up O’Neill’s first try.

Shelford centre Steve Smith kicked two penalties, but Comben dummied his way over and then converted a try from full back Tom Allen to make it 20-6 at half-time.

Two more Smith penalties reduced the arrears, but Shaylor bagged a deserved try, converted by Comben.

Henley had Brennan and flanker Ryan Newman sin-binned within two minutes, but their six-man pack still shoved Shelford off their own ball, providing the platform for O’Neill’s second try.

Lock Ed Mills went over for the visitors, Smith converting, before Brennan and Beales saw red for a midfield fracas.

O’Neill had the final say with a try converted by Comben.