Manning seeing double to get past TJs

CHINNOR held on for a hard-fought victory after a thrilling encounter with Tonbridge Juddians.

Ben Manning scored twice for the home team, who took all five points but were pushed all the way by their opponents who did enough to take two bonus points of their own.

Although the visitors dominated the opening exchanges, it was No.8 Manning who opened the scoring for Chinnor on the quarter-hour against the run of play, with Jonny Bentley converting.

Tonbridge continued to dominate though and eventually the pressure told as prop Michael O’Sullivan forced his way over, with the visitors trailing 7-5 at the break.

They pressed on early in the second half and took the lead through Richard Bent, finishing after a rolling maul and then some slick handling with Nathan Holmes again off-target with his conversion.

That seemed to spur Chinnor into life, with Manning driving over for his second try three minutes later to make it 14-10 to the home side.

Murray Galbraith-Lowe responded for Tonbridge with their third try, again unconverted, but a Bentley penalty restored Chinnor’s lead at 17-15.

Replacement Tom Ranaboldo then crossed for Chinnor’s bonus-point score, although it was Tonbridge who struck last through Hugo Watson to take two deserved bonus points.