BANBURY Bulls returned to winning ways with a thrilling 38-19 triumph over Marlborough in South West 1 East.

The Oxfordshire side pulled away in the closing stages of an absorbing contest and are now just two points behind leaders Old Centralians.

Dan Brady put the hosts ahead with a brilliant bit of improvisation, kicking a loose pass off the floor to score, Ed Phillips converting.

Marlborough levelled with a converted try of their own, but Banbury deservedly regained the advantage when Joe Mills darted over, Phillips again adding the two points.

The fly half kicked a penalty to make it 17-7 at the break, before the away side received a yellow card for kicking the ball out of a ruck.

Banbury continued to dominate in the second half and drove forward off a scrum, before Ed Berridge put a kick in behind the defence.

Justin Parker won the race and dived over in the corner, Phillips adding the extras.

But the contest was far from over and Marlborough showed great fight to score two tries, one converted, to bring it back to 24-19.

The momentum was with the visitors, but Banbury decided attack was the best form of defence.

Jack Briggs touched down for a converted try, before Kieran Fitzgibbon went over, Phillips adding the extras, to seal the bonus-point win.

Tony Turetta scored a try in the final moments to rescue a 15-15 draw for Oxford Harlequins at Sherborne.

The hosts went 3-0 up with an early penalty, but Quins hit back immediately through Matt White’s try, Dan Todd converting.

Sherborne kicked four more penalties before the break, while the visitors kicked one of their own through Todd to make it 15-10.

Quins dominated for long periods of the second half but could not find a way through, with Harry Burn having a try disallowed.

It looked like the away side were destined to leave with nothing, but Turetta’s score in the corner saw them snatch a deserved draw.