Errors cost Cambridge in Not The Prem Cup game

Cambridge head coach Richie Williams is a former Chinnor player

Cambridge will have to overturn a nine-point deficit in the second leg of the Not The Prem Cup after losing 33-24 to Chinnor in Thame.

The two clubs set up the two-match challenge after being excluded from this season's Premiership Rugby Cup, featuring 20 teams from the top two divisions in English rugby.

And the second game will be played at Cambridge on 1 March 2025, during the next extended break in the second-tier Championship.

Chinnor led 21-14 at the interval, and although Cambridge closed to within two points in the second half, Callum Pascoe's try extended the home team's advantage with three minutes to go.

"We made some simple errors which really cost us. I think 90% of the points we conceded were a direct result of the errors that we made," Cambridge head coach Richie Williams told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"I was pleased we managed to score some tries from some work we previewed in the week but defensively we've got to be better and the skill execution has to be far higher.

Neither team had played a competitive game since 19 October and there were signs of rustiness throughout as Chinnor scored five tries to Cambridge's four.

"We were the architects of our downfall at times. A lot of that was off the back of not playing rugby for a few weeks," said Williams.

"Both teams made a lot of errors when they were in possession. I thought there was the same level of intensity in defence but the difference between us and Chinnor was they took their opportunities when they presented themselves and we were a little bit wasteful at times," said Williams.

"Result not withstanding, it was a positive advert for ourselves and Chinnor. There was a good atmosphere and a decent crowd that came to watch and we'll look forward to hosting them on 1 March."

Two early touchdowns gave Chinnor the initial impetus before Seb Brownhill replied for the Blood and Sand.

And although Cambridge cut the deficit to 26-24 after the break, a lineout error gave Pascoe the opportunity to seal the win for the home side.

"It was a decent spectacle, there were lots of points scored and I was pleased with some individual performances," Williams added.

"Seb Brownhill really stood out, he's been waiting for that opportunity for a long time, his set-piece work was really good, he worked hard in the loose as well so I'm encouraged by that."