CHINEHAM RFC were narrowly beaten 24-17 by visiting Sandown and Shanklin in Hampshire One.

After an even opening the home side started to take more control of the game particularly at the set piece with the scrum being particularly dominant.

This pressure paid off when a scrum on the five metre line was driven over the line to be touched down by No 8 Karl Pullen Sandown struck back early in the second half with a penalty, but Chineham struck back immediately.

A knock on from the restart gave Chineham another scrum which scrum half Tom Scoble used to unleash the Chineham backs.

Sam Goodall drove the ball up the field leading to Sandown conceding another scrum which resulted in another pushover try scored by Pullen.

The 12-3 lead held until the hour mark when Sandown found their second wind running in three converted tries in the space of nine minutes as they used the low sun to great effect.

Chineham’s response was a third pushover try again scored by Pullen on 79 minutes.

The push for the drawing try and conversion could not be finished so the visitors won 27-17.

Chineham travel to Ellingham and Ringwood next on March 19.