OXFORDSHIRE’S highest-ranked clubs will aim to end the season on a high this weekend.
Chinnor only have pride to play for when they visit Sale in National League 1, while Henley Hawks are aiming to secure sixth place in National 2 South at Old Albanians.
The Kingsey Road outfit have had an up and down season, which began with an opening-day victory over Saturday’s opponents.
It proved the exception to the rule in the early months of the campaign, as Chinnor suffered a series of tight defeats at home while remaining unbeaten away.
Indeed, the Thame-based side did not lose on the road until going down 28-27 at Rosslyn Park on December 4, but the new year signalled a downturn in fortunes.
Chinnor suffered five successive defeats in January and February, before being hit with a five-point deduction last month for using an unregistered agent.
They lost ground on the pace-setters, but the Oxfordshire side have stabilised in recent weeks and are guaranteed to finish seventh.
In National 2 South, two points separate sixth-placed Henley and Dings Crusaders, in eighth.
Luke Allen’s men end the season at a side sitting tenth in the table as they bid to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing 34-19 home loss to Barnes.
Rugby was put into perspective at the start of the season when much-loved lock Dave Hyde collapsed and died after the return fixture against Old Albanians on the opening day.
The sport came together in memory of the popular forward, with £90,000 raised for his family.
On the pitch, Henley have spent most of the season in the top half of National 2 South, although they never truly threatened a title challenge.
They are aiming to avoid ending the season with three defeats in a row.
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