NEWBURY’S away day blues continued as they suffered a third straight defeat on the road, going down 18-6 to Oxford Harlequins in South West One East.
A Ryan Trevaskis penalty put the visitors in front on nine minutes, but they trailed 5-3 at the interval after conceding a try.
A penalty extended the Harlequins lead early in the second half, although Trevaskis cut the gap to two points with one of his own in the 55th minute.
However, another penalty and a converted try sealed the points for Oxford.
Newbury host table-toppers Towcestrians this Saturday (3pm).
Thatcham put in a brave display but ultimately had to settle for a 26-26 draw at Wallingford in Southern Counties North.
The home side made the early running as they scored a fifth-minute try, and things got even worse for Thatcham when they conceded a penalty try at the scrum and had loose-head prop Matt Langdon sin-binned.
At 12-0 down, Thatcham showed tremendous character to hit back with three tries of their own.
Firstly, second row Tom Bestwick went over before Dan Tingle converted.
Si Bowes then collected James Thorogood’s pass to score near the posts, and the flanker then collected his own charge-down to go over again. Tingle added the extras both times and Thatcham led 21-12 at the break.
Wallingford’s forward power helped them back into the game and a pushover try, later converted, made it 21-19.
Thatcham again stayed strong though, allowing full back Liam Rowland to cross following a series of phases.
However, their hopes of a first win of the season were ended by another pushover try at the death.
Thatcham host Reading Abbey this Saturday (2pm).
In the BB&O Premier, Tadley Tigers hammered Risborough 74-5, while Hungerford recorded a first win of the season with a 10-0 success at Alchester.