SOUTHERN COUNTIES NORTH
WALLINGFORD recovered from 15-3 down to beat Reading Abbey 16-15 at the Hithercroft.
Fly half Olli Henderson’s late penalty sealed victory for Wallingford, whose pack held sway for much of the game.
Full back Tom Waterhouse kicked Abbey ahead with a penalty, but Henderson replied in kind soon after No 8 Kris Blaszko had been held up.
Waterhouse collected his kick ahead to score a try, which he converted, while home centre Pete Holton wasted a good chance.
Abbey centre Arron Ross crossed over from scrum half Steve Drake’s kick.
Blaszko barged across to begin the comeback and replacement scrum half Derrick Viljoen pounced for a try on the right.
Depite having wing-turned-No 8 Andy Gillies in the sin-bin, Wallingford clinched the spoils through Henderson’s penalty.
Alchester’s high penalty count cost them in a 19-10 defeat at Aylesbury.
Only dogged defence kept the visitors in touch, but Jonny Burgess’s late penalty denied them a losing bonus point.
James Woodfall kicked Aylesbury ahead with two penalties, but Alchester replied when prop Charlie Surman barged over.
With their back-row forward Dan Kimber in the sin-bin, Alchester conceded their only try of the match, Jim Dodds touching down from a driving maul.
Woodfall converted and slotted another penalty for 16-5 early in the second half.
Some Alchester pressure led to a yellow card for Aylesbury skipper Graham Sale and wing Kristian Ancil went over.
Ancil went close again, but Burgess sealed the visitors’ fate.
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