A LATE penalty try earned Bicester a hard-fought 18-13 win at Stow-on-the-Wold in Southern Counties North.

Both sides scored two tries apiece, while centre Tom Miles played a vital role in securing the Oxfordshire side victory by kicking two penalties and a conversion.

Despite being 6-5 ahead at the break, Bicester found themselves 13-11 in arrears with 16 minutes to go, but a late rolling maul earned them a penalty try and the win.

They now head into the festive break on the back of four straight victories and sit third after 11 matches.

It took 34 minutes before either side registered on the scoreboard, with Miles slotting a 35-metre penalty for a 3-0 lead.

Moments later, the centre landed another three-pointer after a Stow infringement.

But on the stroke of half-time, the hosts reduced Bicester’s lead to just a point as centre Craig Chapman crossed for an unconverted try following a catch and drive.

Visiting lock Andrew Faulkner was sin-binned ten minutes after the break and from there Bicester were punished as flanker Daniel Salvage ploughed across from the resultant tap penalty to make it 10-6.

The visitors replied immediately as scrum half Mike Harris raced across for an unconverted try to hand his side the lead once more.

Faulkner returned from the bin, but Bicester found themselves chasing the game again when Archie Hayward banged over a penalty from the 22-metre line, making it 13-11 to Stow.

But as the final whistle beckoned, Bicester dug deep to secure victory.

Miles kicked a penalty long and deep towards the corner and after two scrummages, they set up a driving maul from a line-out.

This led to Faulkner crossing under the posts, but the referee had already awarded a penalty try and Miles added the extras.

OTHER RESULTS

BB&O Div 3: Bicester 2nd 39, Bracknell 3rd 19.

BB&O 4 North: Gosford All Blacks 2nd 5, Bicester 3rd 19.