BICESTER began pre-season with a 17-7 defeat to Southam in a friendly split into three 25 minute periods.

The north Oxfordshire side used 35 players in the fixture, losing the first period 12-0, drawing the second 0-0 and winning the third 7-5.

Southall’s Sam Bench and flanker Justin Pietrowski crossed in the first session.

Will Wood converted the second score.

Flo Neale drove over for the visitors in the third, but Bicester’s Adrian Teckoe plunged over and Tom Mills converted.