CHINNOR produced another gritty and gutsy display on the road, but fell just short in a 28-27 defeat at leaders Rosslyn Park.

It proved to be the mouth-watering contest many expected, with two of National League 1’s high-fliers going at it in south west London.

Having trailed 14-0 and then 28-15, Chinnor did not give in and set up a nail-biting finale when Will Millett crossed for a bonus-point try on 78 minutes.

Crucially, it went unconverted as the Oxfordshire side suffered a first away defeat of the season.

The hosts dominated the opening 25 minutes and Phil Cokanasiga’s quickfire tries put them 14-0 up – Craig Holland converting both.

Chinnor hit back immediately through Willie Ryan, James Bourton adding the extras, before Oscar Heath’s excellent 37th-minute finish in the corner.

Park extended their lead just before the break when Austin Hay crashed over from a driving lineout, Holland again adding the conversion to make it 21-12.

Bourton’s penalty reduced Park’s lead early in the second half, but the hosts crossed for a fourth time through Arthur Ellis.

Trailing 28-15, Chinnor had work to do and they dug in. Ben Manning’s try under the sticks, Bourton converting, cut the lead once more and the visitors dominated the final 20 minutes.

Park withstood the pressure until Millett’s fine try from 30m with two minutes left.

Chinnor were within a point, but Bourton had a difficult conversion from the touchline and the young centre’s effort sailed just wide of the left post.

Elsewhere, Henley Hawks are just four points off the top of National 2 South after a 26-5 win at Barnstaple.

Luke Allen’s side had to deal with wind and rain in North Devon, but handled it well.

Hawks led 12-0 at the break after Ben Harrison and Cail Cookland went over, the latter adding a conversion.

The full-back twice added the extras in the second half, as Scott White and Ollie Frostick crossed either side of a Barnstaple try.

Oxford Quins won 31-28 at Bracknell in South West 1 East to leapfrog their opponents into second place.

Leaders Banbury Bulls thrashed Trowbridge 70-5 at home, while Witney beat Windsor 43-5 and Grove triumphed 21-15 at Frome.

In Southern Counties North, Bicester drew 18-18 with Reading Abbey, Wallingford lost 49-14 at Marlow and Gosford All Blacks went down 57-0 at Reading.