Chinnor suffered their first defeat of the season as Richmond earned a 26-14 victory in a gripping National League 1 encounter.
Individual errors proved to be the Oxfordshire side’s downfall in a match they led 7-6 and 14-13.
Two Ross Kirby penalties put Richmond 6-0 up after 22 minutes. But Chinnor responded brilliantly to go 7-6 in front four minutes later when Josh McNulty touched down, Laurence May converting.
The visitors should have crossed again on the stroke of half-time, but Will Flinn dropped the ball with the try-line at his mercy. Richmond started the second half well and only a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Carl Kirwan denied Ronnie McLean. However, the pressure eventually took its toll and Jesse Liston forced his way over, Kirby converting, to make it 13-7 to the hosts. Chinnor reacted well again, though, and Will Harries crossed.
May landed a difficult conversion from the touchline to put the visitors 14-13 in front. But Kirby kicked his third penalty before the full-back converted Toby Saysell’s try to make it 23-14 with eight minutes to go. Chinnor’s Kieran Goss was sin-binned late on for a dump tackle and Kirby slotted the resultant penalty to complete the scoring. Director of rugby Matt Williams said: “Overall, I was actually pleased with our shape. “Our lineout dominated, our drive was very strong, and we were on the wrong end of a few decisions in the scrum that levelled field position out, because they have got a very good kicker who cleared territory off a handful of penalties.
“A couple of silly mistakes in the second half allowed them in and then we were chasing the game.
“It was very frustrating. All credit to Richmond, they defended really well, but it was a game we potentially could and should have done better in.”
