CHINNOR moved top of National League 2 South after beating Barnstaple 32-27, but are also indebted to Henley Hawks after they defeated previous leaders Taunton Titans by 11 points.

The Thame-based side made it ten games unbeaten when recording their ninth victory of the season.

Chinnor took a 12-0 lead when Harry Mosely and Kieran Goss crossed, Jonny Bentley converting the first.

Barnstaple replied as Jarrad Hayler went over and Jordan Petherbridge added the extras.

But Petherbridge was soon sin-binned for the hosts and Chinnor took advantage with Mike McDonald going over to make it 17-7.

Barnstaple made it 17-17 at half-time, though, as George Oliver was sin-binned for the visitors and Gwyn Parks kicked a penalty before converting Rob Dugard’s try.

Chinnor raced into a 29-17 lead in the second half when Alex Bradley and Jamel Hamilton raced over, Bentley converting the first.

James Bath crossed for the hosts, Peterbridge adding the extras to cut the deficit, before Bentley’s penalty made it 32-24 to the visitors.

The hosts hit back through Petherbridge’s penalty, but it was not enough to deny Chinnor.

Henley produced a brilliant performance to beat Taunton 42-31 away.

Hawks led 17-3 after 14 minutes, thanks to tries from Marcus Lowe and David Hyde. George Jackson converted both, before kicking a penalty.

Taunton cut the deficit to ten points, thanks to a converted try, but Hawks replied on 22 minutes.

Jack Robinson raced in from 40 metres to touch down, Jackson converting, to make it 24-7.

Taunton scored a second try, but Henley took a 27-12 lead into the break when prop Brad Cook stepped up to kick a 55-metre penalty from out wide.

It was soon 33-12 as Liam O’Neill sprinted over for an unconverted try.

But Taunton came back strongly and with Hawks’s Dave Clements in the sin bin, they scored a try.

Henley replied brilliantly as Xavier Andre crossed, before Lowe went over to all but seal a deserved victory.

Taunton grabbed a consolation try late on, but that was all it proved to be.