BANBURY needed two tries in the last ten minutes to beat Oxford Harlequins 26-12 in a gripping derby at Horspath Sports Park.

Winger Toni Turetta crossed twice in the second half as the hosts fought back from 14-0 down.

But tries from Duncan Leese and Dan Brady saw Bulls to a bonus-point victory.

The win leaves Banbury six points adrift of the play-off spot in South West 1 East.

Oxford Mail:

  • Banbury winger Dan Brady stays in play despite the efforts of Quins centre Martin Nutt to score his first try Picture: Simon Grieve

Quins were unable to make the most of a strong start and trailed 14-0 at the break.

Winger Brady acrobatically scored in the corner to give Bulls, who lost head coach Matt Goode to injury early on, the lead, Ed Phillips, playing at fly-half in the absence of Sam Stoop, converting.

  • Dan Brady goes over in the corner to give Banbury an early lead Video: Banbury RUFC

Errors had started to creep into Quins’ game and they finished the half with 13 men when centre Martin Nutt and Turetta were sin-binned within two minutes of each other.

Banbury took full advantage with full back Tommy Gray dotting down, Phillips converting.

Quins were the better side for the majority of the second half, while the visitors had second-row Nick Pratt sin-binned and lost Gray to injury.

The hosts were still unable to turn their possession into points and were soon also back down to 14 when replacement Guy Fairburn was yellow-carded for a high tackle on flanker Matthew Powell.

Oxford Mail:

  • Quins full-back Ed Yeates tackles Banbury scrum-half Justin Parker Picture: Simon Grieve

Quins refused to give in and Turetta crossed twice, fly-half Rory Garrett converting the first, to reduce the arrears to 14-12.

The home side had their tails up and could sense an opportunity.

But Banbury found another gear to not only take the game away from the hosts, but pick up a vital five points to keep them in the play-off race, thanks to tries from centre Leese and Brady, Phillips converting the first.

  • Pete Boulton and Dan Brady combine for Banbury's bonus-point try Video: Banbury RUFC

Witney moved to within eight points of safety despite a 29-27 defeat at Marlborough.

An early collision between the visitors’ Ben Fisk and his opposite winger led to an ambulance being called.

After the game was moved to an adjacent pitch, Witney took a 5-0 lead through Alex Foggett, before Jake Williams darted over to level.

Jack Birks and Matt Webb crossed, Ted Landray converting the latter, to give the visitors a 17-5 lead at the break.

Anthony Maka’s try cut the deficit, before Landray’s penalty made it 20-10 to Witney.

But Marlborugh hit back to go 29-20 in front when Mitieli Vulikijapani, Maka and Harry Jackson crossed, Williams converting twice.

Witney earned two bonus points when Birks dived over late on, Landray converting.

There was still time for them to earn victory, but Landray’s drop-goal attempt went just wide.