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Chinnor's Ed Rixon attacks during their 29-10 victory at St Ives

Chinnor need just one more point to seal the South West 1 title after a hard-fought 29-10 victory at St Ives.

December's clash at Kingsey Road saw Chinnor cruise to a 77-0 win, but it was always going to be a much tougher propsect down in Cornwall.

Indeed had St Ives produced this level of performance all season, Chinnor coach Jason Bowers felt they would not have been relegated.

Flanker Andrew McGuire opened the scoring for the visitors following a good passing move.

Further tries came from wings Phil Huxford (2) and Pip Seymour with fly half James Cathcart kicking three conversions and a penalty.

Huxford's first try came from a scrum half Owen Gustafson's excellent break.

St Ives were lucky not to see their prop red-carded with ten minutes to go, but had the consolation of scoring a converted try with the last move of the game.

Also in Chinnor's favour is that title rivals Bracknell visit Reading, who are still fighting relegation, in their final game.

Oxford Harlequins, who visit Chinnor, in their last match, are virtually guaranteed to survive despite a lacklustre 39-29 home defeat to Coney Hill.

Even if Coney Hill win their final game and Quins lose at Chinnor, there will need to be a 160-point shift for them to be relegated.

Quins led 24-7 early in the second half, but then imploded, conceding four tries in 22 minutes.

They began with a bang, however, when centre Beau Wilson set up a try for flanker Phil Rowe in the fourth minute.

Scrum half Anthony Cope created try No 2 for centre Neil Spottiswoode and with Frank Jones converting it was 12-0 after 11 minutes.

Wilson joined Coney Hill centre in the sin bin midway through the half. The visitors replied on 32 minutes when Rob Baker converted Steve Felice's try.

Full back Huw Jones sent wing Andy Noyce racing over to put Quins 17-7 up at the break, while Wilson's 47th-minute try was converted by Frank Jones.

Quins looked set for the win that would dispell any relegation doubts, but Mike Knight, Chris Ballinger, Dave Brown and Steve Griffin then scored for Coney Hill with Baker converting the last three.

Baker's penalty made it 36-24 before the hosts rallied with a try from replacement flanker Tom Johnson.

But a second Baker penalty ensured Coney Hill's victory and Quins to reflect on their inconsistency just a week after winning the Oxfordshire Cup.

6:52pm Monday 14th April 2008

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