Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to County Round up.

Since our previous home match against Windsor on the 6th December, Bicester have played 2 away matches, losing 26-3, at Milton Keynes on the 20th December, and 18-8 at Slough last Saturday. At Milton Keynes, the dismissal of Esawa Rakacikaci and injuries to Leigh Rushworth and Jeremy Liddy ended our justifiable victory aspirations, whilst 3 errors on the greasy Slough pitch cost us a total of 15 points.

Still on the subject of local teamnews, I’m delighted to report that the Bicester 2nds promotion drive is still very much on course, courtesy of 4 more emphatic victories. Beginning with a 43-3 victory here against Gosford All Blacks 2nds,they annihilated High Wycombe 2nds, 94-5, also at home. Therewere 7 individual try scorers in the Gosford match and both Nete ‘Fox’ Bav and ‘Jim’ Matanavou, bagged hat-tricks in the Wycombe game. I had the pleasure of watching their 52-13 away win at Aylesbury, where Nete ‘Fox’ Bav scored twice and fly-half Tom Barnes converted 6 of the 8 tries. Then,last Saturday the 2nd XV won the crucial return game at Banbury 2nds, 37-12.

Bicester 3rds completed their 2008 programme with an impressive 46-17 victory at home to High Wycombe 3rds. They then started the new year with a 24-17 friendly win over Faringdon, but went down last week 12-5 to a very strong Witney 4ths side, which included the more senior teams.

Henley’s good form has deserted them in recent weeks. In the 4th round of the E.D.F. Energy National Trophy, the hawks last 34-6 to Moseley, and surprisingly, they went down, 17-3 at home to basement boys Worthing in a National 3 South game. The junior side, Henley Wanderers are currently bottom of South West 2 East. Meanwhile fellow National 3 side Chinnor have staged a dramatic revival defeating Barking 30-22, and Bridgwater & Albion 29-3. Wallingford’s historic run of success has come to an abrupt halt, with losses away to Reading Abbey,13-9 and at home to promotion contenders Maidenhead, 29-5. However, they are still 4th in the South- West 2 East league table.

Turning to our own Southern Counties league, Witney have enjoyed 2 ‘local derby’ wins already this year, beating our visitors Chipping Norton, 13-10, at Hailey Road, before succeeding 20-10 against Grove, at Cane Lane. Chipping Norton went down 20-7at hoe to 3rd placed Marlow. In the equivalent Midlands 3 East division Banbury lost at home to mid-table Lutterworth, 17-15. Winger Ben Bodinham scored both a try and a penalty as Gosford All Blacks knocked last season’s finalists Oxford out of the County Shield, with an 8-5 shock win last Saturday, the All Blacks won more convincingly again to Oxford 22-11 in a BB&O Premier Division league game at Stratfield Brake. Harwell also won, away at Wheatley, 31-12, but they suffered an earlier reverse at hometo Broadmoor Staff, 32-23. Abingdon who were given a walkover in the Oxon Shield by Wheatley, gained an impressive league win away at Phoenix, 30-20. Littlemore thrashed Aldermaston, 41-5, but Thatcham’s defeat of Oxford Harlequins 3rds, means they remain the leading 1st team side in Division 1 South.

Four Oxford University Blues, Ricky Lutton Toby Henry, Sean Morris and Ian Kench have been named in the England Students squad for their forthcoming 4 match campaign, against Irish Colleges, France Universities, The Dutch National Team and Combined Services. University hooker Anton Oliver plays for the Barbarians against Llanelli Scarlets today.

Director of rugby Steve Hill, has stepped down from coaching the Dark Blues. Ex University and Chinnor coach Lynn Evans, is now a part-time contributor to a new R.F.U. coaching website. Former Oxford Harlequins director of rugby Matt Maudsley is now looking for a coaching job in the national leagues.

The Littlemore squad nowhave new Adidas tracksuits thanks toa sponsorship deal with Specsavers of Cowley, whose manager Roy Midwinter played for Littlemore in 1977.

Chinnor prop Bob Baker hasretained his place in the England Under 20 squad and hopes to be included in the game against Italy on February 6th.

Oxford Harlequins beat Amersham & Chiltern, 27-10,in a recent O.B.B Under 17’sDivision C league match. Three Oxfordshire players Charlie Gordon, Vadim Toczylkin, and Julian Watkins have been named in a 40 man England Under 16 development squad.

Oxfordshire girls received a £3000 cheque from Oxon County Council, to help develop rugbyacross the county over the next 2 years. Four girls from Grove Flyers recently took pat in the ThamesValley Under 15’s squad trials. Banbury Under 11’s gained a 10-5 victory away at Wallingford. Wallingford Under 7’s reached the semi- final of the plate in the Tag Festival at Richmond College, losing by one try to Old Reigations.

For now, enjoy your rugby whever you are and hope to see you again at Oxford Road this Saturday, February 21st when we play Grove.

Paul Crisp