Rugby round-up: Windsor maintain promotion hopes with narrow victory at Buckingham

Buckingham 26, Windsor 31

Windsor managed to overcome a major hurdle to their promotion hopes as they went away to fifth placed Buckingham and came away with a narrow 31-26 victory.

Having been beaten 33-26 by Buckingham at Home Park back in September, Andy Symons' side would have travelled to Buckingham with a degree of trepidation - knowing they really must continue winning matches if they're to either challenge Oxford Harlequins 2nds for the title or finish as one of the best-placed runners up in the region to claim promotion.

Buckingham had won nine of their 15 matches ahead of the clash while Windsor had lost just two of their 16, so the scene was set for another thrilling clash.

The teams didn't disappoint either with Windsor managing to build a 19-7 lead at the halfway stage and holding off a second half fightback from their hosts to win by just five points.

Harry Bicknell touched down twice for the visitors with Will Moss and Allen Crawshaw also going over to secure a narrow but decisive victory. Ben Grant-Adamson needed to be on form with the boot as well, slotting four conversions and a penalty to keep the visitors' noses in front.

The result means Windsor are just five points behind Quins at the top of the table, having been the only side so far this season to have toppled the leaders.

They have just five games left to try and reel in the leaders - who have been largely untroubled in most matches this season. However, if Windsor finish as one of the best placed runners up at their level in the region, they could yet secure promotion via that route, something they just missed out on last season.

They host Grove in the first of those five matches on Saturday before visiting third placed Bletchley and hosting fourth placed Chinnor 3rds on March 1 and March 8.

Symons' side then finish the campaign with games against Wallingford away on Saturday, March 22 and home to Reading Abbey on Saturday, April 5.

They will then turn their attention to the end of season cup competition and a knock-out clash at Brunel University, scheduled for Saturday, April 12.

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Marlow 27, Teddington 28

Back-to-back home defeats have put the brakes on Marlow's recent momentum, with Kev O'Byrne's side losing a thriller 27-28 to Teddington this Saturday.

Marlow had looked to be moving in the right direction after away wins over leaders London Scottish Lions (31-32) and Old Haberdashers (19-24), however, they've come unstuck in their most recent matches at Riverwoods, losing narrowly to Belsize Park (10-12) before last Saturday's 27-28 home defeat to Teddington.

Had they won both of those a top half finish or better may well have been up for grabs. It now looks like those narrow defeats will see them finish the season in the bottom half of the Regional 2 Thames Division, however, they're unlikely to be dragged into a relegation battle, sitting 16 points clear of the bottom two with six matches left to play.

They're back at Riverwoods again this Saturday when they host second from bottom Hemel Hempstead.

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Maidenhead return to action in the Regional 1 South Central Division this Saturday (February 15) when they host in-form Hammersmith & Fulham at Braywick Park.

The teams head into the clash in contrasting form, with Maids licking their wounds following a 45-17 defeat at Tunbridge Wells two weeks ago and Hammersmith having produced one of the performances of their season to defeat Camberley 46-17.

Maids have won their last two matches at Braywick, edging out Old Alleynians 41-33 and Bracknell 25-23. And with rivals below them having closed the gap to them in recent weeks, they’ll be keen to avoid a third straight league loss. Hammersmith did though edge them 16-11 when the sides met in the reverse fixture back in early November.

Maids are seventh in the table on 36 points, but 10th placed Hammersmith could move to within a point of them should they claim a bonus point win while preventing their hosts from picking up a bonus point.