PETER TARREGA scored a stunning solo try as Bicester began their Southern Counties North campaign with a 14-10 win over Thatcham.

The hosts took the game to their visitors in the early stages, and a powerful rolling maul allowed fly half James Grosvenor to send centre John Behan hurtling under the posts.

Grosvenor made no mistake with the conversion for 7-0.

Shortly afterwards, Thatcham drilled a penalty to the left-hand corner and from the line-out, flanker Tim Apperley plunged across for an unconverted try.

Three minutes later, the visitors made it 10-7.

A quick ball from a scrum inside their own half released winger Liam Rowland, who sprinted 70 metres to dot down for an unconverted score.

Bicester had a try disallowed for a double movement, before a 20-minute stoppage ensued as Thatcham’s No 8 Mark Smith was taken to hospital with a dislocated ankle.

When play resumed, Grosvenor had an opportunity to level the scores at half-time, but his attempted penalty from 60 metres dropped short of the posts.

In the second half, good work from Lemeki Valvou released Behan, but with a try looking likely his off-load failed to find a Bicester teammate.

Lock Andrew Faulkner was sin-binned for the home side after a ruck infringement, but Bicester were undeterred by going down to 14 men.

Four minutes before the end of Faulkner’s return to the fray, winger Tarrega went onto score what turned out to be the match-winning try.

After intercepting a pass, he shook off several tackles to sprint to the posts from 70 metres.

Grosvenor added the extras for 14-10.

Bicester continued on the offensive with three scrums, followed by a penalty, but Grosvenor was unable to add to their tally.

Alchester suffered a 26-20 defeat at Tadley on the opening day of the BB&O Premier Division.

Despite Jack Briggs’s converted try and Adam Thompson’s penalty, the visitors trailed 11-10.

They struggled after having two players sin-binned, but rallied to earn a bonus point through a penalty try and a three-pointer from Thompson.