OPRFC largely dominated proceedings at Riverwoods Drive to beat Marlow 32-12, a try in the final play of the game enough for a bonus point and a second win of the season.

The Twisters had all the territory in the opening ten minutes but were unable to show anything on the scoreboard for it and were then punished by Marlow in their first foray into the opposition half, full back Stash Maltby cutting a nice line to score with a little under a quarter of an hour played.

OPs responded immediately, the hosts fumbling the kick off and allowing Priorians to advance deep into the 22 ; a catch and drive from the lineout was ultimately succesful, Tom Batt coming up with the ball, Will Taylor unable to convert to leave the score at 7-5.

Both sides looked a little shaky in defence in the early stages and Marlow's flaws in the tackle were exposed by Cathal Sheehan, the skipper galloping in from 50 metres for a trademark long range try to put the Twisters ahead for the first time in the match. Marlow were then able to win the ball back from the restart and good angles were once again the undoing of OPs as the scores headed level at the 25 minute mark.

A high penalty count in the first half hour was proving to be a sticking point with both Marlow and Old Priorians getting in trouble around the ruck ; Will Taylor's kick to the corner set the basis for another rolling maul, which was slowed before centre Ethan Wetherell spotted a gap to go in under the posts. Taylor added two, 19-12 at half time.

An entertaining first half gave way to a somewhat scrappy second, where OPs began to assert their influence on the game, ceding little ground to Marlow as especially impressed in the scrum. Two penalty kicks from Taylor extended the gap to 13 points heading into the last quarter, the home side receiving two yellow cards to make their job even more difficult.

Much to Marlow's credit, a resurgent final ten minutes took them all the way up to the OPRFC tryline, only to be held up ; they then conceded a penalty from the resulting scrum, then another further down the pitch, the ball going to Taylor who then executed a perfect cross kick that was gathered by Kimen Nyam, popped inside to Batt who grabbed a second for the afternoon as well as a bonus point to boot. Taylor's conversion ended the game, 32-12 to Old Priorians.

This was very much a deserved victory for the Twisters, who perhaps could have scored two or three more tries but should be extremely buoyed by their general ability to control the tempo and pace, giving Marlow very little to work with and not conceding a single point in the second half, the first time they have managed to do so since beating London Irish Wild Geese in January.

OPs are back at home next Saturday as they take on Oxford Harlequins II as part of a double header, with the Saints up against Ruislip II.

OPRFC SCORERS

T : Batt 2, Sheehan, Wetherell

C : Taylor 3

P : Taylor 2