CHINNOR let an early lead slip when suffering a 38-27 defeat at fourth-placed Ampthill in National League 1.

The Thame-based side were forced to settle for a four-try bonus-point as they remain sixth in the table heading into the festive break.

Tries from Kieran Goss and Alex Dancer put Chinnor 10-0 in front inside the opening five minutes.

But Ampthill replied and took a 14-10 lead, thanks to tries from Aleki Lutui and Sam Baker, James Pritchard converting.

A Craig Holland penalty for Chinnor cut the deficit to one point at half-time.

But Ampthill took control after the break, with tries from Baker and Will Foster, Pritchard converting, making it 28-13 after 50 minutes.

Chinnor refused to give up and Goss dived over, Holland adding the extras.

But Lutui’s second try, Pritchard converting again, extended Ampthill’s lead to 35-20.

The visitors hit back again to secure the four-try bonus point, Josh Hodson going over and Greg Goodfellow converting.

However, Ampthill put the result beyond doubt when Pritchard slotted a late penalty.

Henley Hawks climbed to second in National League 2 South after beating Barnes 24-17 away.

The visitors raced into a 14-0 lead, when Scott White and George Wood went over, Roddy Giles converting.

But Barnes hit back to go 17-14 up at the break, thanks to tries from Robbie Martey and David Butler, Tom O’Toole converting, as well as a Josh Hammett penalty.

Hawks went back in front on 42 minutes when Alex Bradley crossed and they went on to score a fourth try to make it 11 wins in 12 games.