SWINDON recovered from an early double injury blow to get off to a winning start with a 19-10 Southern Counties North win over Bicester at Greenbridge Road.
The home side were dealt a double blow in the first two minutes, losing hard-running second row Nick Warren with a hamstring injury and full-back Rob Haxton with a badly dislocated finger.
The first half set off at a frantic pace, but despite scrum-half Jimmer Courtney's sniping runs, the only score came from a Bicester penalty.
With the wind at their backs after the break, Swindon used their early possession to good effect.
Valiant defence kept them at bay and Bicester's undoing came, ironically, when they broke out of their own half.
Wing Nathan Waite intercepted to score from 80 metres.
Fly-half James Thorley then pinned the visitors back in their own half with a series of kicks and prop Scott Chapman drove over from short range.
However, the referee's attention had been diverted by a Bicester player who had been punching and a penalty try was awarded, Thorley adding the conversion.
Swindon's forwards then punched deep into Bicester territory, and quick hands allowed Waite to go over in the corner for his second of the game.
Thorley converted and a converted score from Bicester proved only a consolation.
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