THIS was sport at its most captivating. Exhilarating, emotional and dramatic, the game had everything.

Occasionally tainted by human error and controversy but overwhelmingly graced by passion, energy and skill, it was an engrossing spectacle.

Tears of joy flowed almost as readily as the celebratory ale for the jubilant majority in black and gold, while there was utter anguish as Chinnor’s beaten warriors sank to their knees at the end of a titanic battle.

The only shame was there had to be a loser.

But try telling that to David Dunn and his players. This moment had been a long time coming for Lions and their reaction at the final whistle said it all.

As Chinnor fly-half James Cathcart cruelly dragged wide his penalty kick with seconds remaining, delirium took hold.

Bournemouth’s replacements, coaches and backroom team stormed the pitch to embrace in the wild, unreserved manner of a team which had just won arguably the biggest match in their club’s history.

Victory in Saturday’s clash of the National Three South West title foes was always likely to result in such scenes. The prize was huge, but the winning margin was tiny. It is a harsh game.

When a huge crowd of around 1,200 arrived at a sun-kissed Chapel Gate, they had no idea their entrance fee was about to prove such a bargain.

From debatable refereeing decisions and scintillating passages of play to touchline spats and monster tackles, it was an edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting affair throughout.

Hearty cheers from the Oxfordshire contingent greeted Chinnor before a roar welcomed Lions into the arena. The tone had been set.

In a frenetic opening, kickers Dan Pollard and opposite number Cathcart showed cool heads to trade penalties.

Decked out in wasp-like colours, it was not long before the Dorset outfit began to swarm all over their rivals.

After flanker Harry Jackman had been sin-binned, Bournemouth made their numerical advantage tell in a ruthless, match-defining period.

Robbie Searle went over in the corner before Pollard was the beneficiary of a Scott Chislett burst, taking an offload from the rampaging centre to get the ball down under pressure. By the time Pollard had added the extras, Lions were suddenly 18-3 in front. Surely there was no way back for Chinnor… Two penalties from the powerful boot of Cathcart kept them within range before good work from the Bournemouth pack allowed Pollard to again demonstrate his laid-back technique.

Having established a deserved 21-9 interval lead, Lions were cheered to the rafters as they ran in for a well-earned breather, while Chinnor opted to seek refuge in the shade.

Whatever visiting head coach Jason Bowers told his men huddled under the trees, it worked – eventually.

Lions began as they left off – in the ascendancy – but failed to make their dominance count. Searle missed a long-range penalty before captain Alan Manning failed to utilise an overlap.

The game began to become increasingly fractious, with tempers flared on and off the pitch.

Tom Mowbray became the second Chinnor player to get an enforced rest and became involved in a needless exchange with Lions director of rugby Dunn. Bournemouth, though, were not complaining when Pollard stretched the lead to 24-9.

However, Chinnor were far from ready to roll over and wing Pip Seymour went over in the corner before Cathcart added the extras.

The visitors went down to 13 men when Sam Stoop was sent to the bin for dissent – but Bournemouth were unable to cash in on the gaping hole in the Chinnor defence when Dan Connolly fumbled following fine work by Chislett.

The big shift in momentum came when Lions flanker Tony Dunkerley received a yellow card on 62 minutes. Amid it all, the drama continued on the touchline, with prowling Lions coach Tim Collier regularly bellowing in the touch judge’s ear.

Collier’s mood would have taken a turn for the worse when Chinnor crept within one score thanks to a Cathcart penalty, before taking the lead for the first time with 13 minutes remaining.

A Liam Gilbert drive from the base of the scrum gave Chinnor go-forward and the ball was worked wide for Seymour to again finish. Cathcart converted and Lions suddenly had it all to do.

Step forward Pollard. After Bournemouth were awarded a penalty at scrum-time, the stand-off again displayed a cool head to put his team back in front.

With nerves jangling, a grandstand finale to a breathtaking game looked on the cards. It did not disappoint.

After inexplicably attempting to throw to the back of the line-out, Lions conceded a penalty in dangerous territory. As Cathcart stepped up, it looked ominous for Lions.

The Chinnor man ran down the clock to ensure it was the final play, yet despite Cathcart looking the epitome of composure, he pulled his kick wide.

It was impossible not to feel for the Chinnor kicker but that did not stop the Bournemouth party.

It was a truly exceptional game.

Both coaches claimed their team had deserved to win.

And, in truth, neither deserved to lose.