SOUTHAMPTON-backed Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles Trant R.T.) and Tony Green (GA Cycles) filled the top two places at the Didcot Phoenix cyclo-cross meeting at the Newbury Show Ground.

The Vectis Off-Shore Sports CC pair of Sean Williams and Ed Perry followed them across the line to deny the promoting club any joy in its second meeting of the season.

The day started badly for Didcot Phoenix when members learnt that their top rider Paul Lloyd the Wessex League leader, was in bed with flu.

Then hopes that their youngest star, James Harris, would repeat his success of a week ago in the first race of the day were dashed by New Forest CCs Peter Dibben of Ashurst who bounced back from his defeat in that race by beating his Didcot rival to win the under-12s evant.

Competitors from the southern half of the region also set the pace in the youths race, won by Ian Legg (Principia RT) from Thomas Budd (G.A. Cycles), before the 43 entrants came under starter's order in the main event of the day.

Without Lloyd to challenge him, Bowers was expected to coast to victory, and this he did, with over two minutes in hand over Green but, for half the race, his fifth success of the season looked far from certain.

Sean Williams (Vectis Off-Shore Sports CC) currently lying second in the league, was responsible for this.

Adopting the tactics of three weeks ago when he chased Bowers hard in the Crabwood CC meeting at Tatchbury Mount before dropping out completely exhausted, Williams found the faster conditions at Newbury more to his liking.

He succeeded in keeping up with Bowers for four of the eight laps before losing contact with the league champion.

Once clear of Williams, Bowers powered into a two-minute lead, leaving his erstwhile rival alone in second place until being passed on last lap by the more experienced Green who paced himself well to secure second place - his best result of the season.

Disappointment for Williams was countered by success for his Island clubmate Ed Perry who acquitted himself well in the cold conditions to finish fourth and win the junior prize.

But other Southampton area riders had the final say, with Malcolm Cross leading a trio of Hargroves Cycles R.T. veterans to finish in the top ten.

RESULTS: 1 Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cyles R.T.) 8 laps in 1.0.36, 2 A Green (G.A. Cycles) at 2.17, 3, S Williams (Vectis Off-Shore Sports C.C.) at 2.24, 4 E Perry (Vectis Off-Shore C.C.) at 3.15, 5 K Wilmott (G.A. Cycles) at 4.7, 6 M Cross (Hargroves Cycles R.T.) at 4.24, 7 K Blann (Liphook cycles R.T.) at 4.45, 8 P Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles R..T.) at 6.37, 9 I MacDonald (Hargroves Cycles R.T.) at 7.14, 10 D Dowling (Farnborough & Camberley C.C.) at 1 lap.

Youths: 1 Ian Legg (Principia R.T.) 24.13, 2 T Budd (G.A. Cycles) at 1.40, 3 C Dickinson (Farnborough & Camberley C.C.) at 1 lap.

Under-12s: 1 Peter Dibben (New Forest C.C.), 2 J Harris (Didcot Phoenix), 3 R Allen (Farnborough & Camberley C.C.), 4 J Dibben (New Forest C.C.).