CHINNOR 39 REDINGENSIANS RAMS 41
Rams, boosted by the return of Robbie Stapley from Henley, survived a nail-biting finish in a 12-try thriller to earn their first ever league win at Chinnor.
In the eighth minute of injury time, the home side had a touchline conversion to earn a share of the spoils.
But Bertie Hopkin was off target twice despite being given a second chance because of shouting by a Rams player.
It needed a gutsy display by the visitors, especially in defence, to finish on top in this relegation derby after receiving three yellow cards in the game.
Rams move out of the bottom three, but their coach Mike Tewkesbury said: “I don’t think we played territory well in the first half.”
“But after the break we did far better and scored a couple of nice tries through counter-attacks.”
Former Rams star Stapley, signed during the week, had an eventful start with an early yellow card. But he went on to play a vital role at No 8 in a lively back-row of Samir Kharbouch and man-of-the-match Tom Vooght.
Rams’ 22-21 advantage at the interval, with a strong wind at their backs, looked hardly enough as the lead had changed hands five times in a lively opening quarter.
Winger Sean McDermottroe crossed twice, once from a pin-point cross kick from Luke Flower, while Olly Foxley added another five-pointer - Flower landing two conversions and a penalty.
Chinnor also grabbed three tries and it could have been four but for Greg Goodfellow dropping the ball in the act of scoring.
Four minutes into the second half a Foxley break ended with Vooght going over but a yellow for Ben Henderson enabled to Chinnor to reduce the arrears to three points.
But the fired-up Rams hit back when Joe Vandermolen was sin-binned. Stapley went over from a catch-and-drive, Flower adding his fourth conversion, before Henderson started and finished off a move in style.
Going into the last ten minutes the Sonning men looked home and dry at 41-26 up but Chinnor had other ideas and a late try and penalty put them within seven points.
Vooght was sent to the bin, Jamie Townsend crossed and then came the dramatic finale. Hopkin’s kick drifted a foot wide to the left and his second attempt was wide to the right as he over compensated.
Rams young loose-head Ollie Smith deserves a mention. He came on at half-time, replacing Matt Weller, and did a good job.
Duffelen; Foxley, Bryant, Barnes, McDermottroe, Flower, Hill, Weller, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Kruzycki, Kharbouch, Vooght, Stapley. Reps: O Smith, Knowles, J Smith, Amor, Drury.