Bicester paid the price for a lacklustre first-half display as they went down 36-24 against visitors Thatcham in Southern Counties North on Saturday.

The hosts were looking to make it back to back wins following their narrow success against Beaconsfield.

But they came unstuck against the Berkshire visitors.

Bicester went behind after only eight minutes when lock Tom Bestwick plunged over from a driven line-out.

And it got worse for the hosts shortly afterwards when slick handling from Thatcham and weak tackling saw Louis Kanaar racing across the line, with fly half Joe Leadley converting both tries.

Bicester scored a try of their own when lock Matt Dye went over in the corner, with Tom Miles’s conversion attempt striking a post.

But more poor defensive cover saw Leadley sped over for an unconverted try, with a Luke Evans score as Bicester trailed 24-5 at the break.

Early in the second half, the gap was extended when Thatcham prop James Thorogood was driven over, before Bicester stirred themselves.

A penalty try, converted by Miles, cut the deficit.

A quick break from Dan Spencer allowed lock Ryan Gallacher to hurtle across, but Miles’s kick again hit an upright.

The visitors were awarded a penalty try of their own, converted by Leadley.

Dickie Walsh burrowed over to grab Bicester’s bonus point with try No 4, Miles converting, but it was too late