Buckingham stars in Abbots’ big push

RUGBY UNION

BRAD Buckingham scored two tries as Hillingdon Abbots kept up their promotion push with a 35-19 victory at Saracens Amateurs on Saturday.

Buckingham’s brace and tries from Neil Gordge and Dave Francis sealed the win and a crucial bonus point to put the Abbots four points clear of London French in Herts/ Middx Two.

The Abbots began the match with an early Buckingham try but the hosts hit back minutes later and scored an unconverted try in the corner. Elliot Wake kicked two penalties either side of a Gordge try to put Abbots firmly in control and Buckingham, then crossed the whitewash for a second time with a surging 45-metre burst ending under the posts.

Abbots’ lead was cut to 25-12 as Saracens scored a converted try just prior to the break but Wake scored another penalty after the interval before the hosts piled the pressure on by scoring another converted try to set up a nervous finish.

However, Francis’ late surge through the Saracens backline secured victory along with the bonus point for Abbots, who host seventh-placed West London on Saturday.

In the same division, Ickenham are still looking for their first win as they were thumped 67-0 by Harlequin Amateurs.

They will hope to stop the rot away at Thamesians next Saturday while Uxbridge, who had no scheduled game this week, face London French.

In London Two North West, Old Merchant Taylors’ suffered a 28-12 defeat to the Honourable Artillery Company and they are at secondplaced Harpenden this weekend.

And Ruislip, who lost 46-14 at Letchworth Garden City in London One North, will look to bounce back at home to North Walsham on Saturday.