RUGBY UNION: Miles gives Grove the boot (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Miles gives Grove the boot

4:33pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Rugby

Southern Counties North

ALCHESTER caused a big upset by defeating Grove 15-9 and damaged their promotion prospects in the process.

Grove began the day top, but could find no way past their Oxfordshire rivals’ excellent defence.

The visitors took the lead with a first-minute penalty from fly half Roger Sevier after Alchester were caught off-side.

Home centre Tom Miles equalised with the first of five penalties on the half-hour and added a second three-pointer after Grove prop Steve Dixey was sin-binned.

A penalty apiece from Sevier and Miles made it 9-6 at the break, the latter coming after Grove flanker Guy Nicholl was sin-binned.

Almost immediately from the restart, Miles slotted his fourth kick.

Nicholl was denied a try due to a forward pass, but Sevier landed a penalty after Alchester lock Andy Harbottle was yellow-carded.

Miles’s fifth effort proved enough for victory, while Grove passed up a kickable penalty and pressed hard.

Wallingford collected their first win since October with a 36-19 defeat of Marlborough.

Marlborough took the lead with a converted try after some sloppy defending, but Wallingford hit back via a driving maul that saw prop Antony Marris get the touchdown.

No 8 Ian Jeffreys off-loaded for flanker James Norris to score his first try of the season, then fly half Angus Brettell blasted over, with full back Ralph Smith converting both.

Marlborough scored again before the break and added a late converted try.

In between, Wallingford took control with three tries in the final quarter.

Firstly Jeffreys crashed over for Smith to convert, then Brettell touched down in the corner after Smith’s mazy run.

Marlborough had their scrum half sent off for punching, while flanker Luke Best completed the home try scoring and Jeffreys was yellow-carded.