Old Priorians were defeated in the last minute for a third time this season, as Aylesbury grabbed an 80th minute win in a thrilling top-half clash at Ostler's Field.

On a cold yet crisp afternoon in Buckinghamshire, the hosts were able to take all the early possession and forced a penalty in the opposition 22, choosing to maul from the lineout, proving to be a good tactic with a fifth minute unconverted try the reward.

OPs struck back immediately, inspired by Rory Gaffney's fantastic break deep into Aylesbury territory before Guy Djedje was eventually fed the ball to cross the line for his second score of the season. Charlie Harte was able to convert to put the Twisters into the lead at 7-5.

With a number of stoppages disrupting the natural ebb and flow of the game, opportunities started to come in a somewhat piecemeal fashion. The frequent shifts of momentum fell in favour of Aylesbury, who won the ball back via a free kick on an OPs scrum. Electing for the tap and go, they forced their way over, Alex Shearer successful with the conversion as the first quarter came to an end.

Once again, the home side gave Priorians an instant way back into the match, as good work from the Twisters at the restart put Aylesbury under pressure, conceding a kickable penalty which Harte was able to slot with ease and reduce arrears to two points. Ed Hansell then put OPRFC in the lead five minutes later, Michael Jobling's switch of play the catalyst along with a typically marauding break by Djedje.

Shearer put a penalty through the posts on the stroke of half time to give his side parity as the whistle blew for the break, 15-15 the score with the first 40 minutes played.

OPs started the second half much the better, yet ceded advantage just outside the opposing 22 through crossing, Aylesbury then advancing down the pitch. The Twisters were pinged for an offside in front of the posts and Shearer wasn't going to miss an easy chance to go ahead once more, 18-15 with 50 minutes played.

This preceded maybe the best period of play for the visitors, with the Old Priorians backs in especially good form as two tries in five minutes turned the fixture on its head - the first created by Cathal Sheehan's powerful break, followed by a flowing backs move then ended with James Paxman's well taken try in the corner.

The second was arguably the best try of the game, with the ball going through nearly every set of hands - Kimen Nyam on the other wing able to race in after a fine period of play. Ross McIntosh landed an impressive touchline conversion and OPs led 27-18 with a little less than 20 minutes left on the clock.

Aylesbury - now trailing by nine points - needed to keep a foothold in the fixture lest it get way from them, and it was a 50 metre penalty kick from Shearer that provided it, as the gap was tightened to six with fifteen minutes to go.

As crunch time approached, the play began to go Aylesbury's way ; camping themselves out in the Priorians 22 for the entirety of the final ten minutes, a number of penalties provided them with a series of chances to score ; after spurning a couple, force eventually took them over, the successful conversion giving them the lead.

There was still time for a restart - which the Twisters won back to add more drama to proceedings - but a knock on shortly thereafter meant the Ostler's Field outfit could kick out of play to end the match, 28-27 the final score.

An end-to-end encounter that was characterised by both errors yet showed moments of quality, OPs will feel very hard done by to lose in this fashion for the third time in 2025/26 ; it is worth bearing in mind, too, that Aylesbury are unbeaten at home this season, and Priorians are ten points better off than at the same point in 2024/25.

OPRFC are at home next Saturday to Windsor.

OPRFC SCORERS

T : Djedje, Hansell, Paxman, Nyam

C : Harte, McIntosh

P : Harte