BANBURY Bulls closed to within two points of the top of South West 1 East with a 104-3 mauling of Trowbridge.

Tom Macdonald and Joe Mills scored hat-tricks, with Bulls racking up more than 60 points before half-time.

Early penalties from Ed Phillips and Trowbridge’s Tom Weaver sandwiched Justin Parker’s converted try.

Mills crossed soon after and James Jennings went over twice, with each try converted to give Bulls a 31-3 lead.

Macdonald joined the party after some quick Banbury hands, with another conversion following.

The pair of hat-trick heroes then exchanged converted tries to bring up 50 points for the home side well before half-time.

The break gave Trowbridge some respite, but only after Tom Burman and Duncan Leese touched down, with a conversion making it 64-3.

Mills and Macdonald wasted no time in bagging their third tries, Burman scoring his second in between, with the score reaching 83-3 once conversions were added.

Tom Eyston crossed for his first try of the season, before Macdonald scored his fourth and Leese touched down again, with three conversions completing the scoring.

Oxford Harlequins remain fourth after a 34-25 victory at Marlborough.

Archie Van Dyke’s unconverted try gave Quins an early lead, before the hosts were reduced to 14 men for a high tackle on 22 minutes.

Nick Harris touched down for the visitors, Jonny Gerrard adding the extras, but Marlborough replied with a converted try.

The two sides traded unconverted scores before the break, Toby Butler crossing for Quins, to make it 17-12.

A Marlborough penalty two minutes after the restart reduced the deficit, but unconverted tries from Van Dyke and Jonnie Henderson stretched the lead to 12 points.

The home side crossed with five minutes left, but Butler soon touched down again.

Van Dyke converted to seal victory, with Marlborough scoring a late consolation try.