CROWTHORNE RFC secured a third consecutive BB&O Premier victory with a 17-10 success at Chipping Norton.

The early exchanges were tentative in the chilling north easterly wind and the home side opened the scoring after seven minutes as Crows No. 8 Ricky Frost was adjudged to have man handled the referee out of his way as he broke out of the Crowthorne 22.

Three points down spurred the men in black to string some phases of play together, coming close to their opening score when full back Tom Dawkes joined the line to put right wing Josh Roberts in at the corner – only for the final pass to be adjudged forward.

Crows did however take the lead on the stroke of half time with their first try.

A five-metre lineout turned into a driving maul from which hooker Stuart Laye dropped over the line to seal a 5-3 advantage at the interval.

The second period continued where the Crows had finished the first, pegging the home side into their own half.

With points machine Dougie Charman having left the field with a split above the eye requiring medical treatment, the kicking duties fell to head coach Alex Stewart, but he struggled to find his range from the tee. However, a second try came courtesy of Frost as he charged down the left, evading a number of tackles to score out wide.

Roberts was the latest to miss with a kick at goal, but 15 minutes later man-of-the-match Laye went over for his second as a result of sustained pressure.

Some stout defence out wide as Chipping Norton tried to run around the Crows outside defence ensured the visitors maintained their 17-3 lead until the 66th minute.

However, Chipping Norton then set up a nervy finale as some fine handling enabled them to cross the whitewash for a converted score.

With the gap cut to seven points, Crowthorne regrouped, but although they went searching for the try bonus they were unable to cross for the fourth time.

Crowthorne do not have a game this weekend, returning to action with a home game against Wheatley on Saturday, December 5.