CHINNOR got within a whisker of sealing a thrilling last-gasp draw at home to high-flying Cambridge as they fell to a 26-19 defeat at Kingsey Road on Saturday.

A third straight defeat leaves them second bottom in National League 2 South, but only ten points behind eighth-placed Barnes.

It took until the 35th minute for the deadlock to be broken when Ricky Reeves touched down to make it 5-0.

The second half was a different affair, with the visitors firing on all cylinders.

Within three minutes of the restart, it was 19-0, with Albert Portsmouth and Matt Meek crossing. Gerhard Boshoff converted both scores.

Chinnor responded through Ben Manning, with Bertie Hopkin adding the extras.

But Cambridge stretched their advantage to 26-7 when George Furbank touched down and Boshoff converted.

The hosts, though, found a new lease of life in the last ten minutes and debutant George Messum dotted down.

Hopkin slotted the conversion to make it 26-14.

Jake Olley’s unconverted score put them within seven points, but despite getting close to the try-line with a rolling maul in the last minute they were unable to find an elusive fourth try.

In National League 1, Henley Hawks were unable to hang on to their half-time lead as they fell to a 23-12 defeat at Blackheath.

Three tries were scored in a frantic opening ten minutes.

Liam O’Neill went over for Hawks in the second minute, with Connor Murphy adding the extras.

But the hosts responded, with Markus Burcham crossing and Freddie Gabbitass converting to level the match.

Henley replied immediately as Rob Bell burrowed over to make it 12-7.

Blackheath gradually began to dominate, but Hawks led at the break.

A Gabbitass penalty reduced Henley’s lead and on 60 minutes Dave Allen was driven over to put the home side ahead.

Gabbitass added the extras to make it 17-12.

The fly half then kicked two further penalties to make sure of victory.