MARLOW beat Slough 11-10 to win the Bucks Cup on Sunday and earn a passport into next year's lucrative Tetley's Cup - but there were no scenes of wild celebration afterwards.

Coach Derek White said: "It was nice to finish with some silverware but it does not make up for the disappointment of missing out on promotion."

Marlow were pipped to that, and the South West Division Two title, on goal difference by Salisbury.

White said: "The League was our priority and we just missed out, we'll have to do it next year instead."

Marlow will look around for new players to strengthen their team of nearly men this summer.

White said: "If we can keep the players we've got and maybe add another couple we can win it next year."

Marlow bounced back from their league disappointment to take the County Cup on the hottest day of the year, with a below-par performance, which White put down to their league hangover.

Murray Walker missed an early penalty but got it right second time around when he put Marlow 3-0 up. Moments later Daniel Sumpter came close to the game's first try but his pass back inside went to ground.

Slough were kicking mainly for territory and penalty opportunities, two of which were missed by Slough's fullback Waters.

But he equalised with his third penalty attempt, before another Walker penalty regained the lead for Marlow.

Slough then went on the offensive and went ahead with a converted try on 65 minutes from a back row move for a 10-6 lead.

That was the wake-up call Marlow needed. Two minutes after coming on substitute Hewitt fed Walker. He moved it on to Nesbit who supplied Vondrasek who in turn popped it out for Fisher who scored the unconverted winning try.

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