OAKMEADIANS gained promotion for the third time in four seasons following their 24-17 victory over Aylesbury in the Southern Counties North and South play-off at Meyrick Park.

Their triumph was the combination of a season in which regular training under the coaching team of Paul Absolom, who was formerly with Exeter, Steve Harman, Kevin Southam, who was previously with Cardiff, and Peter Martin paid dividends.

Their regular training was epitomised be Oaks' second half display which included solid scrumming, good lineout possession, controlled driving and rolling mauls that resulted in two tries and a penalty goal after a period of sustained pressure and, at the end, good defence.

"It was a great team effort," said Absolom.

The early part of the first half was initially played in Aylesbury territory with two penalty goals from Isi Tuivai against a drop goal by fly half Mike Evans for the visitors in one of their rare excursions into Oaks' half.

Gradually Aylesbury came more into the game mainly led by their number eight Ali Little, who had an impressive first half.

It was Little who drove over to score a try converted by Matt Winterburn, their full-back, which propelled Aylesbury 10-6 in front.

Shortly before half time Oaks, in front of a big home crowd, worked the blind side to put Mark Stantiford in the corner leaving them 11-10 ahead at the break.

Oaks scored early in the second half when a perfect line out was turned into a rolling drive which took the ball 15-to-20 yards and culminated with Hayden Hokianga scoring a typical try from such good approach play.

Sustained pressure brought another penalty goal from Tuivai for an offside by Aylesbury.

Oaks' backs had threatened to make their mark throughout the game but several mistakes gave Aylesbury some relief.

Finally a move started by Oaks' back-row from another driving maul and continued by the backs moving the ball at speed gave Stantiford the opportunity to scorch over in the corner.

He just managed to beat the Aylesbury cover as Oaks increased their lead to 24-10.

Aylesbury, to their credit, hit back strongly in the latter stages and scored a converted try by Malcolm Deay, converted by Winterburn, leaving the score 24-17.

And Oaks' solid defence overcame a tense few final minutes as they were eventually rewarded with victory in a game admirably controlled by referee Martin Bath (Somerset Society).

Oakmeadians: Isi Tuivai, Mark Stantiford, Rob Brookshow, James Faulkner, Andy Heustice, Steve Harman, Nick Mariosa, Peter Slaughter, Colin Milkins, Matthew Riley, James Croker, Chris Jones, Mike Ord, Will Paddison, Hayden Hokianga. Replacements used: Tim Flower for Will Paddison, James Faulkner (injured) caused reshuffle in positions with Jamie Hillier coming into forwards, Troy Siaki for Peter Slaughter.

Dorset and Wiltshire's team for their County Championship clash against Buckinghamshire at Marlow on Saturday has been named as follows by the selectors.

Dorset and Wiltshire: David Parker (Univ of Gloucester), Peter Upton (Salisbury), Phil Graves (Swanage and Wareham), Richard Lang (Salisbury), Mark Heywood (Glamorgan Wanderers), John Penry (Salisbury), Tim Shipsey (Salisbury), Kevin Gough (Newbury), Rich Miller (Dorches-ter), Russell Tinsdale (Wimborne), George Leyland (Wimborne), Stuart Ramsey (Dorchester), James Gaiger (Devizes), Don Parsons (Salisbury), Richard Elliot (Dorchester).

Substitutes: David Bell (Salisbury), Andy Gould (Swanage and Wareham), Tom Collins (Devizes), Wesley Newsome (Chippenham), James Baker (Wimborne), Mark Ramsey (Wimborne), James Warren (Swanage and Wareham).