BICESTER paid the penalty for indiscipline as they were knocked off the top of Southern Counties North at Marlow.

The hosts won 19-8 to become the new leaders as Bicester regretted conceding 13 penalties, eight of them in the second half.

The visitors looked to be on course for victory at half-time, turning round with an 8-3 lead.

They took the lead with an early penalty goal from Tom Miles.

Then lock Will Thurlow took an excellent catch in the line-out and the Bicester forwards drove to the line, with open-side flanker Ryan Biscoe putting No 8 Francois Wiese over for a try in the right-hand corner.

Miles missed the conversion, and ten minutes before the break, the visitors were penalised and Marlow fly half Matt Labron slotted over the kick to make it 8-3.

Marlow stepped up a gear in the second half, starving the dangerous Bicester backs of any decent possession

Labron slotted over three penalties to put them 12-8 in front.

And after Bicester flanker Matt Dye was sin-binned, Marlow launched a concerted attack, culminating in No 8 Dominic Crayden stretching across under the posts for a try, which Labron also converted.

There was no way back for Bicester, who slip to second, two points behind Marlow.

They should get back to winning ways on Saturday when they entertain lowly Milton Keynes.

OTHER RESULTS

League: Bicester 2nd w/o Bracknell 3rd; Bicester 3rd w/o Grove 3rd.

Friendly: Bicester 2nd 47 (tries: D Lawther 2, A Atashgah, D Walker, K Holliday, B Biscoe, N Lake; con D.Walker), Bracknell 3rd.