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.