BICESTER lost for the first time this season as they were beaten 33-32 by Aylesbury in Southern Counties North.
However, they picked up four-try and losing bonus points to go second in the table, three points behind early frontrunners Reading Abbey.
Hosts Bicester started brightly and a Tom Miles penalty from 22 metres gave them an early 3-0 lead.
Centre James Woodfall replied with a three-pointer for the visitors, but it was Bicester who scored the first try of the match.
Winger Dan Spencer collected a high ball on the left, before fly half Dave Hampton combined with Dickie Walsh to send centre James Grosvenor over in the right corner for 8-3.
Aylesbury reduced the deficit to two points with a Tom Barnes drop goal, but Grosvenor soon scored his second try.
After winning a clean ball from a ruck, Hampton was on hand to put Grosvenor under the posts.
Miles added the extras for a 15-6 lead.
Woodfall reduced the deficit with another penalty for the visitors, but almost immediately, Bicester’s Spencer intercepted a pass and ran in from 30 metres.
Miles converted to make it 22-9.
Aylesbury cut the hosts' lead to six points at the break as Woodfall converted his own try.
And five minutes after the break the visitors took the lead when James Dodds muscled over the whitewash.
Woodfall added the extras, before kicking a penalty for a 26-22 advantage.
The see-saw nature of the match continued as a Miles penalty took Bicester to within a point, but when Will Anns was sin-binned, they were made to pay by Aylesbury.
Dodds crossed for his second and Woodfall once again added the extras for 33-25.
Bicester piled on the pressure and in the last play of the match, Anns careered under the posts for the four-try bonus point.
Miles converted as the hosts fell just short.
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