BB&O Premier Division

ALCHESTER boosted their title hopes with a 22-0 victory at second-placed Slough.

They now lead Slough, who have two games in hand, by 12 points and are five points away from guaranteeing promotion.

It was 0-0 at half-time, with centre Matt Flegg hauled down just one metre short in Alchester’s best attack.

Wing Andy Blacklock latched on to fly half Adam Thompson’s chip through to score the first try.

Alchester then scored twice in five minutes to wrap it up, with Tom Miles touching down each time in the corner, the second after good work from No 8 Joe McAneaney and Thompson.

With ten minutes left, lock Matt Dye charged over and Miles converted.

Bicester were denied by a late penalty in a 16-15 defeat at Phoenix, having battled back from 13-0 down.

Phoenix went ahead when wing Jason Townsend touched down his own chip ahead, then fly half Will Ballentyne slotted a penalty.

Townsend ran in his second before the break, while Bicester fly half Jak Cluness was sin-binned for dissent.

On 47 minutes, Bicester wing Craig Smith beat three defenders to run in from 30 metres.

No 8 Dan Spencer drove over for Bicester’s second, with scrum half Steve Risbridger soon making it 15-13 after linking with centre Tom Bass, but Ballentyne’s penalty won it.