RUGBY UNION: Nicholl leads Grove demolition job (From Bicester Advertiser)

RUGBY UNION: Nicholl leads Grove demolition job

10:30am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport

Southern Counties North

FOUR tries from Guy Nicholl helped Grove thrash Wallingford 73-0 and return to the top of the table on points difference.

Fellow wing Harry Carr grabbed a brace as the hosts dominated, but the promotion race remains very tight with the top four separated by four points.

At the other end of the table, Wallingford are just two points above the relegation zone.

Nicholl began his spree inside a minute, finishing a great move, with fly half Roger Sevier converting.

Roger Sevier bagged try No 2 himself, while captain and prop James Eckert touched down No 3 on 20 minutes.

Centre Jamie Burns fielded a chip from Nicholl to score, Roger Sevier converting.

Nicholl powered through for his second and Carr collected Roger Sevier’s kick for his first, the latter converting both for a 38-0 half-time lead.

Roger Sevier maintained his good kicking form, adding the extras to tries from Carr a barnstorming effort from Joe Bellinger and No 8 Dave Wells, who ran in the next try from halfway.

Nicholl completed his tally with the final two efforts, with Roger Sevier converting the first and Carr the second.

A late penalty from fly half Tom Miles saw Alchester deny basement boys Slough a first win of the season with a 16-13 away victory.

Slough led 10-0 after ten minutes via a penalty and a converted try.

Alchester replied with a try from wing Nelson Jordan after a scrum inside the Slough 22.

Forwards Joe McAneaney and Andy Harbottle gained ground before Miles kicked a penalty.

Slough had a man sin-binned before the break, but made it 13-8 with a penalty afterwards.

Alchester were held up on 65 minutes, then full back Andy Blacklock was stopped just short.

Slough had a second player yellow-carded and Alchester finally levelled with a try from centre Matt Flegg.

Miles’s penalty sealed it, while both teams had a man sin-binned in the closing minutes.