CHINNOR opened up a five-point gap over third-placed Old Elthamians when beating their promotion rivals 34-31 in a wind-dominated clash.

The away win has put Matt Williams’s side a bonus-point victory clear in second place with six games remaining in National League 2 South.

Chinnor, playing into the wind, started well and Henry Lamont went over in the corner after five minutes.

Jonny Bentley added the conversion, before kicking a penalty to make it 10-0.

The home side responded and Max Wilkins went over, with Will Robinson converting.

Chinnor’s Bentley and Elthamians’s Tom White exchanged penalties, before the visitors used the wind to their advantage.

Two quick scores from CJ Osazuwa and Greg Goodfellow, both converted by Bentley, saw the visitors take a 27-10 lead into the break.

Elthamians began to use the conditions to their advantage and James Golledge carved through to go over. White converted to make it 27-17.

Chinnor, though, bounced back, and Ali Bone broke from the base of a scrum to crash over on his debut. Bentley added the extras.

The visitors looked safe with a 17-point lead, but Elthamians responded with two tries from Alex Brown, converted by White, making it 34-31.

Chinnor were reduced to 14 men when Bone was sin-binned, but the visitors repelled attack after attack from the home side to earn a vital victory.

Henley Hawks made it three wins in a row when beating Clifton 29-27 away.

Despite having the wind at their backs, the visitors conceded two tries in the first 30 minutes.

Henry Harper and Max Woodward crossed for Clifton.

Hawks got on the scoreboard when Sam Portland stole the ball on half-way and raced over. Joe Butler converted.

Barnes kicked a penalty for Clifton, but the visitors took the game to their hosts and Tom Hall worked his way through to score.

Two tries from Liam O’Neill either side of half-time extended Hawks’s lead to 11 points.

A Barnes penalty once again cut Henley’s advantage before Alex Giltrow barged over to make it 24-20.

Portland’s second try, which was unconverted, stretched the visitors’ lead with ten minutes to go, but Clifton responded and Jack Newey crossed.

He was unable to convert, but had a chance to win it for the hosts late on, only for his penalty attempt to miss the target.