Late drama for Bucks U20s

Mar 11 2010 By Greg Burns

A LAST gasp try helped Bucks U20 beat Oxfordshire in the re-arranged National U20 South West A Group game on Sunday.

The game, at Aylesbury's Ostlers Field, saw Oxfordshire take the lead with a penalty from centre Ian Bradshaw before the home side took control of the game.

Jack Kenyon broke with speed which left the visitors clutching at thin air as he scored the first of three afternoon tries before another Bradshaw penalty gave them a 5-6 lead.

But it was to a short-lived on as centre Dan Butcher fired a penalty of his own between the posts to restore Bucks' lead.

Oxfordshire showed character and steel to take in a half-time lead when fly-half Alex Stevenson made an incisive break through the heart of the Bucks midfield to go over with Bradshaw making it 13-8 at half-time with the conversion.

The home side pressed hard in the second-half and tied the match at 13-13 when winger Jerry Rice stormed on a cross-field run and darted to the corner for a smart try.

With no conversion possible it looked as though the game would end even.

But Josh Curtis has other ideas. The Bucks flanker snatched a try in the final move of the match to seal a dramatic 18-13 victory.

Team manager Chris Smith said: “It was a very evenly matched game but, at the end of the day, Bucks wanted it a little more.”

Smith's side now take on Berkshire at Aylesbury on Sunday in the final group match hoping that unbeaten leaders Dorset & Wilts slip-up against Oxfordshire.