Chinnor drew 22-22 at promotion rivals Redingensians on Saturday, a result that probably secures their play-off place with just two games of the National League 3 South West season remaining.
Chinnor, whose second team beat Henley Hawks 13-11 on the same day to lift the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, are two points clear of their opponents from Sonning as their campaign draws to a climax. Shaun Brown was wayward with a penalty for Redingensians on four minutes.
Chinnor kept their opponents scoreless and then on 14 minutes James Cathcart sent over a crossfield kick for Pip Seymour, who was held up just short of the line.
A series of rucks set up a three-man overlap and a Chinnor try seemed inevitable only for Dom Gosling to rush out of defence and batt the ball away with his hand, earning a yellow card.
Cathcart kicked the penalty to put his side 3-0 up, but then a catch-and-drive by the hosts ended with Rob Stapley touching down in the corner for the hosts. The conversion was missed, but the home side led 5-3.
Chinnor retook the lead when Matt Goode charged down a clearance and sent through a grubber kick to Seymour who crossed for the try, with Cathcart kicking the extras to put Chinnor 10-5 up.
Replacement full back Guy Swadling kicked a penalty for Redingensians, but Cathcart landed two more to send Chinnor in at the break 16-8 up. After the break Stapley picked up the ball at the base of a scrum and brushed off three tackles to score near the posts. The conversion gave the home side a one-point lead.
Another penalty from Cathcart put Chinnor back in front, but then fly half Brown intercepted a pass and raced downfield to score and put the Sonning outfit three points up.
Cathcart landed another difficult penalty to tie the scores as both teams went all out for the win. Chinnor withheld enormous pressure in the final 10 minutes to secure a result that sets up an exciting end to the season.
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