Rugby round-up: Windsor run in eight tries in excellent away win at Bicester

Windsor ran in eight tries as they continued their excellent start to the season with a 48-13 win at Bicester on Saturday.

Andy Symons' Royals were one of the best sides in the Counties Tribute Southern North Division last season as missed out on promotion by the skin of their teeth, just failing to take one of the six best runners-up spots at their level.

However, the way they've attacked the start of this season suggests they're in no mood to miss out once more with the team having comfortably won their past two matches, after grinding out a 21-17 away win at Reading Abbey on the opening weekend.

They looked much more like the team which pushed for promotion last season in last week's 53-19 win over Reading at Home Park and they continued to pile on the points at Whitelands Farm Sports Ground on Saturday.

The visitors ran in eight tries scored by seven different try scorers, as Luke Budd, Allen Crawshaw, Kieran Ghafadgi (two), Josh Turley, Alex Good, William Porter and Rhys Jackson all touched down. Joshua Maddern converted four of them as the visitors claimed another convincing win.

However, three wins from three isn't enough to take them to the top of the table. Symons side are currently third behind Chinnor 3rds and leaders Oxford Harlequins 2nds, who've both picked up three bonus point victories, so competition for the title - and the league's one promotion spot - looks like being intense.

Windsor are back at Home Park against fifth placed Buckingham this Saturday. Their visitors have also made a solid start to the season, claiming two bonus point wins against Bracknell 2nds and Bicester after losing their opening game at Reading.

Last season Windsor were the closest challengers to Beaconsfield - who won all their matches to take the title and promotion to the Regional 2 Thames Division.

Two defeats from their opening two matches suggested they were struggling to find their feet at the level above, however, they hit their straps against Rory Greenlade-Jones's Marlow on Saturday claiming a 51-12 victory.

After staying up in the final weeks of last season, Marlow have made a steady start to this campaign, winning their second game 24-22 against Aylesbury after going down to a 27-10 defeat at Old Priorians on the opening day.

However, they were thoroughly outplayed and outfought by newly promoted Beaconsfield on Saturday and will be looking to get this defeat out of their system when they host bottom of the table Old Haberdashers at Riverwoods this Saturday. Results so far leave Marlow in 10th place on five points.

The Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon South Division promises to be hugely entertaining this season, with Maidenhead 2nds, Marlow 2nds and Slough competing with each other and a host of other local sides.

So far, Maidenhead 2nds are doing the best of our three local clubs, having picked up two wins from their opening three matches - including a 31-14 win over Slough on Saturday. They've also ground out a 26-26 draw away to Beaconsfield 2nds after kicking off their campaign with a 24-14 home win over Rams 3rds at Braywick. Maids sit third in the table behind leaders Henley 2nds and Tadley who've each won all their matches. Marlow are slightly further adrift in eighth, a promising opening day win over Hungerford (34-18) followed by defeats to Rams 3rds (41-12) and Beaconsfield 2nds (22-15).

Second bottom Slough are only of only two sides without a win so far, however, they have collected two bonus points from their three matches. Defensively they looked tight in their 12-5 defeat at Thatcham, however, heavier losses have followed to Tadley (35-53) and Maidenhead 2nds (31-14).

The Greenies host Marlow 2nds this Saturday while Maidenhead go to Thatcham.