CHINNOR remain in the relegation zone after a late penalty try saw them fall to a 24-20 defeat at Bury St Edmunds.

It was all looking promising for Matt Williams’ side, who led 20-3 at the break in the National League 2 South clash, but second-half indiscipline cost them.

The visitors began well and a Bertie Hopkin penalty gave them a 3-0 lead on ten minutes.

Good work in the forwards paid dividends when quick handling sent Marcus Beer clear to sprint to the corner for their first try of the new year.

Hopkin converted to make it 7-0.

Chinnor suffered a setback when captain James Tyas was forced off with a shoulder injury and the hosts rallied, with Scott Lyle kicking a penalty.

The visitors responded well as full back Oscar Heath carved his way through the Bury defence twice to score two unconverted tries and send Chinnor into a 20-3 half-time lead.

After the break, the hosts came out with more determination and Will Affleck crossed, with Lyle adding the extras.

Chinnor once again looked to respond and thought they had scored what would have been the match-winning try.

But it was disallowed after Frank Jones was adjudged to have obstructed an opposition tackler.

The scrum half was sin-binned and the visitors were made to pay as Sean Stapleton went over and Lyle converted.

Bury mounted the pressure and Chinnor defended well until the last three minutes when a penalty try was awarded for persistent offending.

Lyle converted as the visitors suffered another frustrating defeat.