WALLINGFORD have received another boost in their relegation battle, with rivals Reading Abbey being deducted five points.

Abbey’s penalty takes them into the drop zone and means that Wallingford may only need one more win to stay up in South West 1 East.

Witney lost 20-10 at home to Abbey on January 15, but that result has been expunged after it was ruled that the visitors had committed a rule breach by going to uncontested scrums.

Abbey appealed the original ruling, but lost that on Monday night.

Wallingford director of rugby Martin Moran said: “It is another twist in the tale.

“We thought they would get the deduction.

“It looks like being a three-horse race between ourselves, Bletchley and Abbey to avoid the final relegation spot.

“It is a boost for us. It gives us a bit more of a buffer.”

Moran added: “It is now a case of what happens elsewhere, but we have got to win our last two games to be sure of staying up.

“If we get a win and a bonus point, that may be enough.

“It is all going to be very close.”

Wallingford have shown good form at times this season, but injuries have not helped their cause.

“We have had ten fly halves this season, which is hard to deal with,” said Moran.

  • FREE touch rugby taster sessions are taking place at Oxford RFC on Mondays from 6.45-8.30pm.

They are designed to introduce new players to the sport, with the In 2 Touch Oxford League starting up on May 9.

For more information, contact Paul Farringdon on 07540 539123 or paul@in2touch.com.

  • HENLEY College pupil Alec Hepburn started at loose-head prop as England Under 18s lost 26-21 to Scotland in the FIRA/AER European Championship at Headingley Carnegie.
  • CHINNOR Chicks and Oxfordshire are holding a girls’ open training morning at Kingsey Road on Sunday at 10am.