Rugby round-up: Windsor and Marlow both get the better of league leaders

Windsor 22, Oxford Harlequins 2nds 17

Windsor brought an end to Oxford Harlequins 2nds unbeaten record in the Counties 1 Tribute Southern North on Saturday and moved to within five points of the leaders after a narrow 22-17 victory over Quins at Home Park.

Andy Symons' side had to beat Quins at home on Saturday to stand any chance of overhauling them for the league title this season and this they managed in a thrillingly tense contest.

Oxford came into Saturday's game having won all 13 of their matches, with Windsor their closest challengers in the table. It seems certain the title will go to one of these two teams this season; however, they won't meet again this season so Windsor will have to better their results in the final weeks of the season to go above them which remains a tall order.

However, there is still a chance Windsor came claim promotion as one of the best runners-up at their level in the region. So, they'll need to maintain the excellent form that's seen them win eight matches in a row - dating back to their 53-19 defeat to Quins back in October. They may also be left to rue the surprise 26-33 home defeat they suffered to Buckingham at the end of September.

Saturday's victory was hard-earned, with the home side unable to quite shake off the league leaders. Windsor took the lead through Ben Grant Adamson's penalty before Harry Bicknell charged over for an unconverted try to make it 8-0

But Quins came back at them with an unconverted try from Benjamin Vernede.

Alfie Snooks touched down for Windsor midway through the half, with Grant-Adamson again slotting the extras to make it 15-5.

However, two tries from Rhys Painton and another from Vernede, the second of which was converted by Joseph Pigott on the stroke of half-time, saw the visitors head in at the interval with a narrow 15-17 lead.

The second half was a much more frugal affair, with Windsor dotting down for a third try through Joseph Triegaardt shortly after the interval, with Grant-Adamson extending their lead. Quins made a couple of changes to try and restore some momentum, but they were held off by some magnificent defence from the home side who ground out victory.

Windsor are back at Home Park on Saturday with Wallingford the visitors.

--

London Scottish Lions 31, Marlow 32

Windsor weren't the only side to defeat the league leaders this weekend as Marlow produced their performance of the season so far to beat London Scottish Lions 31-32 in a thriller.

With the league leaders having won 13 of their 14 matches this season, few would have given Kev O'Byrne's improving side much of a hope away from home.

However, the visitors managed to match their hosts try for try and point for point before snatching a precious victory, undoubtedly their best of the season so far.

Having not played since their 19-40 home defeat to Beaconsfield at Riverwoods on December 21, Marlow came into the game fresh, but lacking competitive minutes. However, they seemed to have the legs on the Scottish Lions who'd played twice since New Year, edging out HAC 14-12 away from home and beating Belsize Park 24-19 at home the previous week.

The home side ran in five tries of their own, through Cormac McCracken, Christopher Rolfe (two), Finlay Hillicks and Lachlan Lowick. But Marlow had the edge by 12-19 at half-time and squeezed home for a one-point win at the end.

They are ninth in the Regional 2 Thames table, but the position is slightly false as they have games in hand on most of their rivals’ following postponements at the start of 2025. They'll look to build on this fourth win in five when they visit Old Haberdashers on Saturday. They defeated Haberdashers 50-12 at Riverwoods in September.