BICESTER survived a late comeback to beat Swindon College Old Boys 43-38 in Southern Counties North and maintain their winning start to the season.

They have moved up to third in the table, a point behind early frontrunners Reading Abbey.

Dan Spencer converted Dickie Walsh’s early try, before Swindon replied through two Charlie Grabe penalties.

Matty Allen crossed and Grabe converted as the hosts took a 13-7 lead, but Bicester’s Ryan Gallacher galloped over.

Swindon’s Ashley Brown was sin-binned and the visitors took full advantage as Dave Ahu-Gooch galloped over.

But Grabe’s penalty reduced Bicester’s lead to 17-16.

The visitors extended their advantage through Ryan Biscoe’s unconverted score, before Ahu-Gooch went over.

James Grosvenor added the extras for 29-16 and then converted a penalty try.

Liam Splaine sped over for Swindon, with Grabe converting for 36-23.

But Dave Aslett ran in for Bicester, with Grosvenor again slotting the conversion.

Tries from Tucker Blinkhorn and Splaine, one converted by Adam Davies, took the score to 43-35.

Davies then kicked a late penalty as Swindon fell short.

Bicester face sixth-placed Aylesbury this weekend.

Alchester were denied their first victory of the season in the BB&O Premier Division as they conceded a dramatic last-minute try at league leaders Abingdon.

Leading 28-23, Sam Barrett went over for the hosts and Chris Stables converted to deny the north Oxfordshire side.

In an end-to-end encounter, No 8 Matthew Beckley and winger Jack Briggs both touched down twice for Alchester.

Adam Thompson kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Luke Matthew, Gareth Smith, and Lee Taylor were Abingdon’s other try scorers, with Stables converting one of the scores and adding two penalties.

Alchester, who are ninth in the table with three bonus points, host Wheatley on Saturday.