NICK Selway’s dramatic late try earned Chinnor a crucial victory over Rosslyn Park as they edged a pulsating encounter.
Trailing 21-19 with two minutes to go, the hooker crashed over for his 16th score of the season as the home side dug deep to beat their fellow high-fliers.
The victory extended Chinnor’s winning run to six matches in National League 1, while they are now only two points behind second-placed Rosslyn Park with six games to go.
A heroic effort had been needed by volunteers, staff and players for the game to beat Storm Jorge and the goods were produced on the pitch.
Chinnor had led 19-7 at the break, thanks to tries from Joe Rees and Jason Worrall, as well as nine points from the boot of Laurence May.
Park wiped out that advantage and went 21-19 in front within ten minutes of the second period, but the home side took advantage of the visitors having both Stewart Maguire and Daniel Laventure sin-binned to claim a late victory.
Director of rugby Matt Williams made six changes from the side which beat Canterbury a fortnight ago, with Chris Elder returning from ten weeks out with an ankle injury to start on the left wing, while Josh Pieterse, Selway, Jack Ramshaw, Carl Kirwan and Willie Ryan also came back in to the XV.
The home side elected to play with the wind to their backs in the first half and headed into the break with a 19-7 lead.
Chinnor started well and opened the scoring through May’s fourth-minute penalty, but they immediately conceded a try.
May’s clearance kick was charged down by Arthur Ellis and the flanker won the foot race to collect the loose ball and dive over under the posts with the help of the rain-sodden surface. Gregory Lound converted to make it 7-3.
Chinnor enjoyed the majority of territory and May’s penalty reduced the deficit to a point, before they deservedly made it 11-7 after 29 minutes. Elder brilliantly broke the gain line and after several pick and goes, Rees powered over for an unconverted try from close range.
Another May penalty stretched their advantage to seven points and they crossed again on the stroke of half-time. Rees did brilliantly to turn over possession and the ball was spread wide for Worrall to cross in the corner for an unconverted score and his 18th try of the campaign.
Due to having to play into the strong wing in the second period, there were question marks over whether the 12-point lead was enough, while a knock on from the restart gave Park an early chance to reduce the arrears.
Ryan Roach drove over, Lound converting, to make it 19-14, before Park’s third try followed on 50 minutes.
Chinnor lost possession on half-way and the ball was kicked forward. Josh Amadi proved too quick as the hosts scampered back and the replacement dived over, Lound adding the extras, as the visitors went 21-19 in front.
The home side’s response was impressive, though, and, despite playing into a strong wind, they were not short of chances.
However, they were unable to take them with Selway peeling off a maul too early when a try looked on the cards on one occasion, while both sides were guilty of coughing up possession in testing conditions.
Park had a chance to extend their lead with 11 minutes to go, but Lound’s penalty attempt sailed just wide.
Chinnor refused to give in, continuing to pile on the pressure and it took its toll, with Maguire and Laventure sin-binned within six minutes of each other.
The home side took their opportunity and a driving lineout led to Selway crashing over to the delight of the majority of the 725-strong crowd.
Chinnor then professionally saw out the final moments as they claimed four valuable points.
Chinnor: Harries, Worrall, Yawayawa, Laverick, Elder, May, Hoadley, Pieterse, Selway, Rees, Ramshaw, Dancer, Tyas, Kirwan, Ryan.
Reps: Parilli-Ocampo, McNulty, Ehizode, Treviranus, Dancer.
Rosslyn Park: Edwards, Marfo, Golledge, Munro, Scott, Lound, Gash, Wade, Roach, Maguire, Twomey, Gillanders, Freeman, A Ellis, H Ellis.
Reps: Doran-Jones, Laventure, Kovacic, Brooks, Amadi.
