Rugby result from Oxon, Berks and Bucks Premier on Saturday 16th February

17th February 2008

Bicester 23, Oxford 17

Oxford gave second placed Bicester a real run for their money before they let a twelve point lead slip away to lose 17-23 in the final moments of the match. Playing directly into bright sunlight, Oxford made a great start when they won the ball from the kickoff and passed it first right and then back towards the left where Ed Mitchell's pass sent winger Phil Longuet-Higgins over and round for a try converted by Tom Olley with only three minutes on the clock. Shortly after Oxford suffered a blow when they lost promising young prop Ed Mitchell with a neck injury, replaced by Andy MacDonald. Bicester's backs made little headway against Oxford's hard tackling backs and back row but, changing tack, Bicester started to put Oxford under pressure through their heavier forwards and for long periods the bigger men battered away at Oxford's resolute defence. Shortly before the interval Oxford's line cracked and Bicester forced their way over for a try from close in. From the restart Oxford kicked down hill and spurned a penalty kick from in front of the posts. Losing the ensuing lineout they kept pressure on and, from a much more difficult position, Olley kicked a penalty goal for a 10-5 halftime lead. Defending the notorious slope on Bicester's ground, Joe Hartley made a good break to run the ball away but was stopped metres short. From a scrum moments later Oxford's Adam Thompson, with a great sleight of hand, put Tom Olley through an enormous gap and he crossed untouched under the posts for a try which he also converted. Oxford seemed to be in control of the game at 17-5 but a series of Bicester forward drives saw a home try, followed by an easy penalty kick as they clawed their way back into the game. Keeping the ball in the forwards led to a five metre scrum and Bicester pushed over for a try which saw them into the lead for the first time. In the frenetic last moments Oxford fought back to no avail and they conceded another pushover try almost with the last move of the match, and a relieved Bicester side were home by six points.