STOW-on-the-Wold Rugby Club tested unbeaten Berks/Bucks and Oxon Premier Division leaders Drifters to the limit.

Despite missing several key players, the visitors were confident after beating Cotswold rivals Chipping Norton the previous week but came up just short 14-9.

Drifters went offside early on but Nick Cafearo struck the upright with a penalty from in front of the posts.

The hosts settled into the game, using their pace to stretch the Stow defence, and eventually their winger crossed the line in the corner.

Stow winger James Holmes was yellow carded for his efforts to stop him and the try was converted.

Shell-shocked Stow conceded a quick converted effort to go 14-0 down.

But, when restored to 15 players, the visitors forced another penalty before the interval which Cafearo made no mistake from.

Sixth-in-the-table Stow were encouraged to take the game to the promotion favourites and dominated the second-half.

But they found it difficult to break down a solid defence although Cafearo hit the post again with a penalty.

The referee spotted a scuffle and sinbinned Craig Chapman as well as the home centre. From the scrum, Stow’s pack took the ball against the head and Hugo Griffiths broke at pace, making 30 metres.

At the breakdown, Drifters infringed and Cafearo slotted the penalty to make it 14-6 with a few minutes left. Stow were chasing the bonus point which Cafearo secured with a third penalty.

Meanwhile, third-placed Chipping Norton got back to winning way