Leaders leave Blues trailing

Newbury were in contention until Bracknell scored four times in a 15 minute spell and they rarely threatened in the second half.
Phil Simmons and Jamie Futcher touched down for Blues with Dan Thorne adding both conversions and three penalties, while Bracknell’s tries were shared between Nick Maybury, Matt Bramley and Stuart Mackay with two apiece, Stuart Silvester and George Milligan also getting on to the scoresheet while Ben Nowak kicked only two of his eight attempts.
The result leaves Blue one place outside the relegation zone with only two points separating the bottom four with a trip to rock-bottom side Cheltenham looming on Saturday.
Elsewhere, it was almost a clear run of defeats for local teams in their league games. Thatcham went down 64-22 at Grove in Southern Counties North, the collapse coming in the second half after Grove had led 28-10 at the break.
Tadley also came unstuck in the same division, losing 50-19 away to Milton Keynes while a division lower, Hungerford were beaten 55-0 at home by Stow on the Wold in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier Division.
Aldermaston lost 27-6 at Shire Hall in the Championship, leaving Kingsclere as the only local first XV winners after they scored a 29-17 success at Faringdon in the same division.