Old Priorians saw off a second half comeback from Marlow to continue their fine start to 2026, taking all five points at Perivale following a dominant first 40 minute and consolidating fourth place in the Regional 2 Thames table.

A bright start for the Twisters saw Ed Hansell make a midfield break into the 22, with Rory Gaffney finishing the move to take his tally to nine tries for the 2025/26 season, Charlie Harte converting. A yellow card headed Marlow's way around the quarter hour and OPs capitalised, mauling towards the line before stretching the ball across the pitch, Tom Batt eventually scoring in the corner, Harte adding the extras once more to build into a neat 14-0 lead.

Marlow were then able to work their way into the opposition half and quick break wide put them on the board to halve the deficit, only for Cathal Sheehan to put Priorians back in control immediately, his break down the wing leading to his fifteenth try in fifteen games for the campaign, 21-7 as the sides switched ends at half time with the hosts seemingly in control, even if Marlow did show some late threat, held up on the line after a pick and go but also picking up another yellow card from further indiscipline.

The visitors knocked the ball on from kick off which gave OPs an attacking scrum, Ethan Wetherell making a decisive break in the phase following the set piece to give winger James Paxman space to work in for a try out wide, Harte unable to convert but giving Priorians their fourth of the afternoon, enough to garner a bonus point with most of the second half left to play.

Marlow came back once more, the Twisters down to fourteen, giving their opponents a chance to move back into the 22, kicking to touch and then scoring from the lineout to make it 26-12 as handling errors became the order of the afternoon , preventing momentum from building and frustrating both sides with the final quarter approaching. OPs were eventually given a penalty - in position for a kick to goal - Harte putting the three points through the posts to allow some room to breath towards the last ten minutes of play.

Another yellow for Priorians with nine minutes to go meant they would play the rest of the fixture at a numerical disadvantage and this is where Marlow had their best period, first breaking from the scrum to get near enough the line to drive over, then getting another as OPs received another card in the final minute ; the converted try ended the game with OPRFC edging the tie 29-26.

While not a vintage performance from Old Priorians, they did enough against a stubborn team to come away with the spoils, though will be looking to rectify issues with discipline and not letting games slip away, Harte's penalty proving to be the difference between the sides. Marlow themselves will rue a slow start and their own yellows, but may well be happy with two points on the road against a side they have historically struggled against.

There is now a two week break in the schedule, the Twisters heading to Oxford Harlequins II on the 31st January.

OPRFC SCORERS

T : Gaffney, Batt, Sheehan, Paxman

C : Harte 3

P : Harte