Bicester bagged a comfortable 27-5 home victory over Stow-on-the-Wold to move three points clear in second place in the BB&O Premier Division.

Stow enjoyed plenty of possession in a forward-dominated affair, but Bicester had the edge in the backs.

Full back Chad Ward put Bicester ahead with a first-minute penalty and slotted a second three-pointer when Stow transgressed following a lineout.

Ward's boot was firing and he punished Stow a third time from 40 metres out.

A strong Bicester scrummage gave them the platform to spin the ball wide and man-of-the-moment Ward finished in the corner.

Another Stow infringement allowed Ward to slot a fourth penalty before half-time.

Anthony Lewis covered well to prevent a certain Stow try and then got himself on the scoresheet at the other end.

Fly half Adam Spencer's off-load allowed Lewis to cut a fine diagonal line to the corner.

Lewis was soon sin-binned, but this didn't stop Bicester as Adam Spencer sent replacement wing Paul Leverton hurtling over on the right.

Stow's persistence paid off with a late try from scrum half Will Bevan.

Chipping Norton continued their title charge by winning 24-18 at Oxford.

The visitors had a great start when they stretched the defence and Sam Townsend went over for a simple try.

Chippy then went to sleep as Oxford's simple game plan yielded a penalty and two tries.

The second half began with Oxford bagging a third try as a Chippy pass went astray.

But captain Robbie Naish rallied his troops and Shane Griggs crashed over for Adam Smith to convert.

Smith then finished off a 30-metre driving maul and his conversion made it 19-18.

Ian Hancock was held up over the line and Matt Dawson adjudged to have had a foot in touch before Smith scored his second try from a catch-and-drive.

Naish was delighted with the composure that his side showed.

He said: "The spirit and belief within the side is such, that we never doubted we wouldn't win.

"All we ever had to do was cut out the errors.

"We knew once we got our noses in front, there was no way back for Oxford."

Abingdon made it two wins in succession after seeing off Farnham Royal 27-19.

In superb conditions, Abingdon opened with a try by scrum half Matty Pennell, but defensive errors led to a converted try from Farnham.

A pushover try by No 8 Steve Grant restored Abingdon's lead Another long range try by winger Adam Boodell, converted by prop Simon North, made it 17-14 at half-time.

A Frazer McCairns try, converted by Ben Humpage, who also slotted a penalty, put the hosts 27-14 up before conceding a late try.

Defensive errors cost Gosford All Blacks dear as they lost 45-5 at home to Drifters.

Drifters went 21-0 up with Stuart Taylor, James Branscombe and George Lewis scoring tries - all converted by James Cotter.

Gosford's nippy scrum half Tim Ellis went over from a short penalty, but could not convert his own try.

Just before the break, flanker Ryan Long burst through from 40 metres and Cotter's conversion gave Drifters a 28-5 lead.

Branscombe zig-zagged his way over for a second, which Cotter converted.

Gosford skipper Dan Hughes saved another try, but Cotter's penalty made it 38-5.

Alex Rankin ran in try No 6, which Cotter again converted.