BANBURY ended a three-match winless run in South West 1 East when beating county rivals Oxford Harlequins 40-21 at home.

Ed Phillips scored 25 points and Jack Briggs crossed twice for Bulls against a side who had won four out of their last five games.

Two Phillips penalties, the latter resulting from a yellow card for Quins No 8 Matt White, saw Banbury go 6-0 up.

Their lead was soon 13 points when Briggs touched down, Phillips converting.

Rory Garrett’s penalty cut their advantage to ten at the break, but it could have been better for Quins had Ed Yeates not knocked on from close range.

Michael Fox was sin-binned for Banbury and the visitors took advantage, Joe Nalewabau crashing over to make it 13-8.

Bulls responded through a Phillips penalty, but Quins closed to within one point, trailing 16-15, when Toni Turetta crossed and Garrett added the extras.

The visitors lost momentum, though, when Allan Purchase was sin-binned and Briggs went over for his second try, Phillips converting.

Quins also had Ralph Jones yellow-carded, before Garrett (2) and Phillips traded penalties as Banbury led 26-21.

But Bulls finished the stronger as Phillips and Giles Saar, the former converting both, crossed to secure victory.

Struggling Witney remain winless after a 40-12 defeat at home to Marlborough.

The west Oxfordshire side trailed by 28 points in as many first-half minutes.

Lemeki Moala, Josaia Visei, Garth Bari and Pita Robanakpavu crossed for the visitors, Will Grant converting all four tries.

Witney dug in and hit back before half-time to make it 28-7, Jack Birks darting over and Tom Puddle adding the extras.

George Lewis’ fine individual try further cut the deficit, but Marlborough scored twice more, with Epeli Kotobalaou crossing, Grant converting the latter, for a convincing scoreline.