BB&O Round-up

GOSFORD All Blacks climbed to seventh in the BB&O Premier Division table after a 20-5 victory over Hungerford at Stratfield Brake.

Hungerford, who included former Oxford Harlequins scrum half Anthony Cope at centre, took the lead when lock Jon Bastable drove over on 26 minutes.

Gosford hit back when skipper Tim Ellis jinked through and converted his own try.

Home lock Dan Woodcock and the visiting fly half Dom Taylor were sin-binned for fighting.

Ellis set up a try for wing Tommy Newell after the break, then No 8 Dan Hughes won the race to touch down his kick ahead.

The referee opted for uncontested scrums in the increasingly slippery conditions, while Ellis kicked a late penalty.

A much-improved display could not prevent Bicester losing 11-5 at home to Phoenix.

Phoenix led 6-0 at the break, thanks to two penalties from full back Jason Townsend, while Bicester centre Matt Duncalf was sin-binned.

Scrum half Mike Harris scored from the back of a driving maul to make it 6-5, but Phoenix sealed victory with a try from prop James Richardson.

Faringdon pushed hosts Berkshire Shire Hall all the way before losing 12-6 in the BB&O Championship.

Two penalties from Faringdon’s Darren Clarke reduced the arrears to 7-6 in the second half.

OTHER SCORERS

Berks, Bucks & Oxon 1: Witney 2nd 34 (tries S Mortimer, J Birks, W Caffekey, L Manning, W Bibby; cons Manning 3; dg O Roper), Chinnor 3rd 6.

Berks, Bucks & Oxon 2: Bicester 2nd 3 (pen J Blake), Buckingham 2nd 31.

Berks, Bucks & Oxon 3 South: Grove 2nd 58 (tries P Kelly 2, J Simmonds 2, H Lewis 2, J Milnes 2, G Hudson, J Fraizer; cons P Kelly 4), Phoenix 2nd 15.

Berks, Bucks & Oxon 4: Grove 3rd 10 (tries B Law 2), Abingdon 2nd 0.