CHINNOR were cruelly denied victory in the last play as they suffered defeat at Rams.
Tries from Chris Elder (2) and Jason Worrall helped the visitors lead 21-15 with 20 minutes to go.
But there was to be plenty of late drama in what proved to be a thrilling National League 1 contest.
With Shek Sheriff and Cameron Gray sin-binned, Chinnor finished the game with just 13 men.
Rams piled on the pressure, resulting in Robbie Stapley’s try, before Henry Bird crossed in the 80th minute to deny the visitors what would have been a hard-earned victory.
Chinnor had put in a pheromonal defensive shift, but they ultimately left Berkshire disappointed and with just a losing bonus point for their efforts.
The Oxfordshire side headed to Old Bath Road on the back of a 29-19 win over Hull Ionians.
Skipper Carl Kirwan returned as director of rugby Matt Williams made seven changes, two positional.
Dan George, Gray and Sam Yawayawa were handed their first starts of the season, while there were a number of changes in the backs.
Kieran Goss came into the side, with Elder moving to inside centre and Will Harries to full-back.
Both sides showed their intent from the off, but Chinnor were reduced to 14 men after 15 minutes when Kirwan was sin-binned.
However, the visitors stood strong to keep the home side at bay and went on to take the lead.
Fly-half Laurence May’s kick was just a little too strong for winger Yawayawa, however Chinnor won the resulting lineout and opened the scoring.
The ball was fed quickly through the hands of May and Elder, before Harries fed the overlapping Worrall who raced over in the corner. May then brilliantly converted into the wind from the touchline to make it 7-0 after 26 minutes.
Kirwan returned to the pitch just moments later, but Rams quickly got themselves on the scoreboard when Alex Seers slotted a penalty.
Chinnor’s defence still needed to be on the money as the hosts searched for their first try and, after defending their own line, they crossed again on 39 minutes.
It was another fine try as Goss broke through two tackles and set Elder sprinting over from 20m. May, once again, made a difficult conversion from out wide look easy to make it 14-3 at the break.
Chinnor’s defensive work proved the catalyst for their first-half lead, but Rams made a lightning start to the second period to go 15-14 in front.
Ollie Cole caught the visitors out at a scrum and sent Bird racing over, before Conor Corrigan dotted down from a Seers, who converted the first try, grubber as the hosts went a point ahead.
But Chinnor responded well to retake the lead with a fine move which led to Elder sprinting across for his second of the afternoon. May added the extras to make it 21-15 with 20 minutes remaining.
The visitors looked like they had dealt their hosts a blow but, roared on by the home crowd, Rams were not finished.
The final ten minutes proved a nervy affair and the Oxfordshire side’s hopes were hampered when Sheriff was sin-binned for a high tackle, before Gray followed moments later for an indiscretion at a driving maul.
Chinnor were defending for their lives, but Rams made the most of their numeric advantage.
Stapley was driven over with four minutes to go, but the visitors remained a point in front as Seers was unable to convert from out wide.
The fly-half’s miss could have proved costly; however, Rams were undeterred and went on the attack again with time running out.
May made a brilliant try-saving to deny Tom Vooght, but the ball was quickly recycled to Bird who crossed in the corner with 80 minutes on the clock.
Seers then converted for good measure as Chinnor were left with just a losing bonus point.
Rams: Bird, Rossiter, Jones, Humberstone, Corrigan, Seers, Cole, Steadman, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, C Stapley, Guttridge, Vooght, R Stapley.
Replacements: Moffitt, McDonnell-Roberts, Thomson, Denham, Moates.
Chinnor: Harries, Goss, Worrall, Elder, Yawayawa, May, Ashby, Fidler, George, McNulty, Thomas, Gray, Treviranus, Kirwan, W Ryan.
Replacements: Jeannot, Selway, Sheriff, Moore-Aiono, C Ryan.
