CROWTHORNE RFC continued their impressive BB&O Premier campaign as they earned revenge for defeat earlier in the season with a 27-7 success at Risborough.

The two sides have built up a healthy rivalry and both were promoted from the BB&O Championship last season, but it was Crows who took bragging rights on Saturday.

Coach Alex Stewart made a couple of changes to his side on a wet and windy day, giving debuts to William Barham in the back row and Josh Roberts at fly-half.

However, it was the home side who started brightest, crossing the whitewash after just three minutes for a converted score.

Crowthorne fought back, though, and used their dominance at the scrum to hit back just six minutes later.

The visitors’ pack pushed Risborough back from 10 metres in front of their try line, No. 8 Ricky Frost dropping on the ball to give Crows their first points of 2016.

Dougie Charman’s kick drifted wide and with no further scores in the half, Crowthorne trailed 7-5 at the interval.

However, an inspired second-half performance began with Charman slotting a penalty, and scrum-half James Jarvis then went over for a converted try to make it 15-7.

With Risborough’s defence tiring, Crowthorne extended their lead 15 minutes later when a powerful Frost surge allowed second row George Watson to add to his try tally for the season.

Crowthorne completed their bonus-point victory with just two minutes remaining as man-of-the-match Frost broke from another scrum to surge over the line.

And he almost completed his hat-trick shortly after, only to have the ball stripped from his grasp in the final moments.

Fifth-placed Crowthorne visit Slough in a Berkshire derby this coming Saturday (2.15pm).