OAKMEADIANS kept their Southern Counties South title challenge on track - but had to come from behind for the second time this season before beating local rivals Bournemouth.

The Meyrick Parkers triumphed 36-20 at Chapel Gate to follow up their 16-14 home win over the Lions earlier this season.

But they had to dig deep to peg back Bournemouth's 20-15 advantage in the latest game between the two sides.

It began well for Oaks when Pat Lucas capped a well rehearsed move to take an inside pass and score just wide of the posts.

Isai Tuvai's conversion rebounded back off a post, but Oaks hooker Colin Milkins touched down under the posts and with Tuvai adding the conversion, they soon led 12-0.

Bournemouth hit back strongly and Anthony Dunkerley scored a try that Andy Weeks converted to peg their deficit back to 12-7.

Then Johnno Tonkin was forced over in the corner for a touch down early in the second half to mark his home debut for Bournemouth with a try which, converted by Weeks, put them 14-12 in front.

Weeks slotted over a penalty to increase Bourne-mouth's lead to 17-12, Tuvai kicked a penalty to bring the score back to 17-15 before Weeks slotted over another to give his side a 20-15 advantage.

Back came Oaks with a touch down from James Croker, who finished a maul by diving over for the score.

Lucas grabbed his second try when he took the ball at pace and drove past Bournemouth's attempted tackles to go in for another try, before stand-off Steve Harman ran in Oaks' fifth try to make the game safe.

Tuvai converted all three tries as Oaks stretched their lead to a final 16-point winning margin that buoyed them up for their potential title-deciding clash with leaders Frome on January 18 in the next round of league matches.

In the table Oaks are one point behind Frome, who hammered Westbury 45-7 away, so the top two meeting in Wiltshire could prove crucial, particularly as each team will only have six league games left this term after it.

Bournemouth: Spencer, Rummery, Tonkin, Dunkerley, Barter, Weeks, Marsh, White (Lloyd), Upton, Clarke, Billett, Hayter, Davies, Carroll, Burley. Unused subs: Awdas, Sanchez.

Bournemouth 2nds drew 15-15 at home with Oakmeadians 2nds and Bournemouth 3rds beat Oakmeadians 3rds 35-10 away.

Bournemouth Under-18 players Doug Abbott (flan-ker), Martyn Lever (centre) and Matt Morris (hooker) played for the South West against the Midlands on Friday but are unlikely to be invited to the next stage of England trials.

Swanage and Wareham dropped two points behind joint leaders Oxford Harle-quins and Maidenhead in the race for the South West Division Two East championship.

The Bestwall boys' game at Grove was rained-off and Harlequins took advantage by beating Wimborne 45-10 at home to create the two-point gap at the top.

Wimborne, who trailed 17-10 at half time, scored tries through Dave Oddie and Jason Eldrige.

Wimborne: Tinsdale, Reeves, Baker, Frost, Leyland, Oddie, O'Bryan, Jones, Llewellyn, Eldridge, Hutson, Moore, Griffith, O'Neil, Lamb. Subs: Dobson, Bradbeer.

Maidenhead defeated Stow-on-the-Wold 21-5 away to move into second place, also two points ahead of Swans, who host Dorchester in the league on Saturday.

Ellingham and Ringwood lost 29-13 at home to unbeaten table-toppers Isle of Wight in Hampshire Divi-sion Two.

The Hampshire side led 6-5 with two Daffyd Williams penalties before Isle of Wight forged into a 17-6 advantage.

Back row forward Andy Dare ran in a try for Ellingham and Ringwood, converted by Williams, which reduced their arrears to 17-13. But the Islanders added two more tries and a conversion to end up convincing winners.

Lytchett Minster lost in the same division - but narrowly 6-5 at home to Alresford. Stand-off Glen Huxter's pass put the rampaging centre Steve Payne in for Lytchett's try. How-ever, two Alresford penalties secured them victory.

Verwood beat Southampton Veterans 29-12 at home in a friendly with tries from Tim Wynn, Gareth Smith, Dan Brown and Dave Hockaday and a penalty try from Neil Westerman, who added two conversions.