Powergen National Vase: Bicester sealed their place in round five with a 39-10 victory over East Retford on Saturday.

Despite the home side's overwhelming superiority, the scores were level at half-time and Retford were still in the game with 20 minutes left.

However, skipper James Shouler's try gave Bicester a ten-point cushion and a scintillating three-try blitz in the final eight minutes saw them run out convincing victors.

The home side dominated the set-pieces, stealing Retford's scrum ball six times, while their tackling and defensive play was again of the highest order.

The stars of the show were the back row trio of Anthony Nightingale, Jon Hicks and No 8 Martin Linstrom, the latter replacing Christian Wright after 25 minutes when he had to retire due to a neck injury.

Retford went ahead with a converted try, and after Bicester replied with a Nightingale try, the visitors made it 10-5 with a penalty midway through the first session.

Bicester drew level when scrum half Steve Risbridger launched a crossfield passing move which ended with Paul Leverton scuttling in for another unconverted try.

With the slope in their favour after ther break, Bicester lost no time in converting their domination into more points.

Leverton squeezed in at the right-hand corner for a second try and then Hicks stole Retford's lineout and put Shouler away for a try which effectively ended the visitors' victory hopes.

Bicester struck again when centre Anthony Lewis brilliantly jinked his way through for a try which Risbridger converted.

Then, from a strike against the head, Risbridger darted in for a try under the posts.

Finally, Linstrom inter- cepted a pass before running 50 metres to score between the posts.

Risbridger converted to put his side through to the last 32.