CHINNOR laid a 52-year-old ghost to rest with their 22-13 defeat of hosts Henley.

This was the first time, in this always fiercely contested National 2 South derby, that Chinnor have ever won a league game at Dry Leas.

Henley started with great pace and scored early on with a penalty goal by scrum half George Jackson.

Chinnor then exerted continued pressure in the Henley 22 to win several penalties Eschewing kicks for goal, the visitors’ third line-out drive saw No 8 Tom Burns go over for a try converted by Bertie Hopkin.

Henley continued to play a high pace rucking game but could not breach the stout Chinnor defence, although a second Jackson penalty closed the gap to 7-6.

Chinnor stretched their lead when scrum half Greg Goodfellow foxed the home defence and went over a try.

After resisting a long period of Henley pressure, Chinnor took the game downfield, where a catch and lineout drive saw Richard Thorpe driven over for Chinnor’s third try.

Hopkin’s conversion saw the visitors 19-6 ahead at half time.

The second half began with wave after wave of Henley attack foundering on determined Chinnor defence.

The pressure told when flanker Tom Hall crossed for the hosts’ first try, which Jackson converted.

Hopkin’s landed a penalty to make it 22-13.

As the rain continued to fall, Henley could not escape Chinnor’s superb tackling with one by Chinnor’s Danny Barnes surely registering on the Richter Scale as Chinnor celebrated making history.