BICESTER had to fight hard for a 24-19 victory at Swindon College in the BB&O Premier Division to set up a final day promotion showdown with Slough.

Flanker Nathan Bedford-Forrest opened the scoring for Swindon with a try that centre Anthony Criddle converted.

But Bicester full back Chad Ward hit back with a penalty before converting the first of two tries from centre Pat Coogan.

Scrum half Craig Smith broke through five tackles for a try Ward converted on the stroke of half-time.

Coogan's second score plus Ward's third conversion made it 24-7.

But tries from No 8 Woody Briggs and fly half Mark Williams, plus a Criddle conversion set up a tense finish.

Gosford All Blacks ended their campaign with a 20-8 defeat of Phoenix.

Phoenix went ahead with a penalty, before Gosford winger Doug Joines scored a try from deep inside his own half.

The visitors grabbed a late try, but scores from centre Harry Sutton, lock Rod Rhymes and full back James Holburn secured the win.

Abingdon's home clash with Wallingford was postponed when the referee didn't turn up.

OTHER SCORERS

Midlands 3 East South: Bugbrooke 5, Banbury 75 (tries D Taylor 3, P Papenfus 2, J Taylor 2, M McNally, P Flemming, G Sturla, J Parker; cons Papenfus 10).

BB&0 1 South: Maidenhead 3rd 39, Harwell 10 (tries I Empson, M King), Thatcham 5, Oxford Harlequins 3rd 26 (tries J Platt 2, M Stoddart, S Warzawyniak, cons A Thompson 3).

BB&O 2 North: Banbury 2nd 100 (tries A Walsh 4, A Mawle 2, D Davies 2, A Oddy 2, J Deegan 2, I Isham, A Ell, A Woodward, D Day; cons Day 7, De Bruyn 3), Stow-on-the-Wold 3rd 13.

Friendly: Oxford Harlequins 4th 18 (tries S Tyrrell, R Walley, J Wood, pen R Telling), Witney 4th 12.