Favourites Chinnor duly won the David Charles Oxfordshire Cup with a hard-earned 17-13 victory over Banbury in the Iffley Road sun yesterday.

Chinnor's James Borgnis In an excellent final, Chinnor had to come from behind to see off determined opponents who put recent disappointments behind them to turn in their best display of the season.

The only difference between the sides at the end was two conversions.

Banbury, relegated from Midland 1 and without a clubhouse of their own, showed plenty of spirit and no little skill to take the lead twice.

Their first try came after 14 minutes, after they ambitiously kicked a penalty to touch. Andy Noyce landed the ball to within five metres of the Chinnor line.

Lock Matt McNally won the line-out, and following a forward drive, was on hand to receive a pass and force his way over.

It took time for Chinnor, who conceded two strikes against the head, to respond, until they remembered that they had a potential match-winner in leading scorer Charlie Oyebade.

A slick passing move close to the Banbury line put the winger over on the left, and Darren Oxley's conversion made it 7-5.

Banbury, with prop Henk Hattingh making some bullocking runs, regained the lead with an almost identical try to their first.

Noyce's penalty was again tucked into the corner, McNally again won the line-out, and this time it was prop Lee Perkins who powered over the line. Noyce was again unable to convert.

Chinnor must have been impressed with Banbury's ploy, because three minutes later they scored in similar fashion.

James Borgnis won a line-out close to the Banbury line and flanker Nick Marr was driven over the line for Oxley to convert.

Just before the interval, Banbury scrum half Tony Hurst's break forced Chinnor to concede a penalty, which Noyce kicked to make the half-time score 14-13.

The second half was a disappointment. Chinnor, from South West 1, had most of the possession, but never remotely looked like scoring a try, while Banbury's passing in the backs left a lot to be desired.

The only points came in the 52nd minute, with a penalty by Oxley.

So it was Chinnor captain James Davies, despite suffering a dislocated shoulder, who received the cup from another Chinnor man, Oxfordshire president Kevin Robinson.

Banbury: Ferguson (Fellows 70), Noyce, Fleming, Papenfus, Cartmell (Taylor 75), Gill, Hurst, Hattingh, Brown, Perkins (Hobley 69), McNally, Chatterton, Cummings (Jeyes 65), Brooks (capt), Cockerton (Jeyes 48-52).

Chinnor: Cawston, Brooks, Oxley, J Davies (capt), Oyebade, Kruger, Deeley (Phillips 39), Matthews, Kelly (Whelan 65), Harris (Woodburn 40), Borgnis (Begley 68), Du Toit Serdyn (Pearson 4-16, 18-22, 27), Marr, M Cook, Hennessy.

Referee: G O'Hara (Dorset & Wilts).