BB&O round-up

CHIPPING Norton battled back to defeat Bicester 27-23 in the Premier Division at Oxford Road.

Bicester led 20-8, but could not quite hold on after injuries forced them to play with 14 men.

No 8 Dan Spencer put Bicester ahead with a first-minute penalty and scrum half Craig Smith sent wing Jak Cluness over for a try.

Chippy scrum half Matt Dawson finished off a forward drive to reduce the arrears, then fly half Neil Penny levelled with a penalty.

Bicester took a scrum against the head, enabling Spencer to power in for a try, which he converted.

On 47 minutes, full back Dickie Walsh and centre Dave Hampton set up Spencer for his second try.

Chippy made it 20-20 with tries from Craig Korszewski and Richard Flather, Penny converting the former’s effort.

Spencer’s penalty gave Bicester a brief lead, but Dawson pounced on an awkward bouncing ball for the decisive try, converted by Penny.

Littlemore held on to pip a depleted Gosford All Blacks 17-16.

Two Sam Gamble penalties put Littlemore 6-0 up after ten minutes.

This sparked the visitors, for whom Dan Hughes was stopped just short after a 30-metre dash.

Gosford skipper Tim Ellis slotted penalties either side of half-time.

Littlemore replied when wing Owen Wells ran in powerfully from 25 metres.

Gosford’s Chris Bennett made a big impact after moving to centre, while Ellis kicked a third penalty.

The visitors’ indiscipline allowed Gamble to slot two more penalties for 17-9.

Prop Tony Baughan forced his way over with ten muinutes left, Ellis converting, but it was too late for Gosford.

A Paul Costello penalty was all Didcot had to show from their 61-3 defeat at Farnham Royal in the Championship.

OTHER SCORERS

Rugby Tech Shield Div 2: Oxford Harlequins 2nd 10 (tries A Maspero, J Hayden), London Irish Amateurs 21.

BB&O Div 1: Witney 2nd 40 (tries T Matchett 2, T James 2, J Harris, T Murton; cons S Copperwheat 2; pens Copperwheat 2), Bracknell 3rd 17.

BB&O Div 3: Maidenhead 4th, Bicester 2nd 45 (tries C Nash 2, M Lambourne 2, H Gaunt 2, T Cook; cons Cook 5).

BB&O Div 5: Bicester 3rd 12 (tries C Morris, M Mirzael con S John), Oxford Harlequins 4th 45 (tries A Edwards 3, R Cooke 2, T Walton, I Phillips; cons Cooke 5).