BANBURY centre George Grieve will be Oxfordshire’s sole representative at the RFU South West Division under 18 trials.

At the end of the month, Grieve will join 29 others from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset & Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset to compete for a place in the regional squad.

This is the next phase of selection for the England under 18 squad – a feat achieved by Banbury’s Doug Backhouse last year.

On Sunday, Grieve helped Oxfordshire Under 18s beat their Somerset counterparts 21-14 at Bristol Grammar School.

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Oxon struck first on 20 minutes when Taylor Stevens drew the last defender to put Hugh Saar in under the posts, Callum Armstrong converting.

Somerset struck back with a converted try.

Oxon raised the tempo in the second half and both sides put in an exceptional defensive display.

Quick thinking by flanker Joe Bates saw him drive through a ruck and offload to scrum half Jack Taylor who crossed the line, Armstrong again converting.

Somerset were lucky to keep all 15 players on the pitch after Oxon replacement Alex Haywood was taken out by a high tackle as he crossed the line.

A penalty try resulted, with Armstrong again adding the extras.

Somerset exploited the advantage from an Oxon yellow card to run in a converted try from deep inside their 22.

BANBURY Under 14s powered to a 40-0 home victory in a friendly with Bromsgrove.

Ben Parker, Alex Booth, Tom Bacon, Toby Parker, Alfie Barbeary and Max Bending scored tries, with Parker converting five.

Ellis Dancey-Brock (2), Dan May, Salam Raseki, Theo Smith, Josh Kaura and Jake Relton bagged tries as Banbury Under 13s beat Bromsgrove 35-21.

Tries from George Compton-Alway, Toby Levene and Tom Haynes earned Banbury Under 12 A a 15-15 draw at Barkers Butts.

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