A RELIEVED Craig Burrows admits he is glad Grove do not have to go into the final weekend with the prospect of relegation hanging over them, writes Jack Johnson.

Brendon White scored a hat-trick of tries, including in the last play of the game, as the south Oxfordshire club earned a nailbiting 30-29 win over fellow strugglers Reading on Saturday.

It means Grove are now an unassailable eight points clear of the South West 1 East relegation zone ahead of this weekend’s season finale at local rivals Oxford Harlequins.

Head coach Burrows said: “I knew it was going to be tight, but I did not think it would be that tight.

“No one wants to be in this position, but we are just glad.

“That’s enough now and there is no pressure going to Quins.”

Grove fly half Mike Martin and his Reading counterpart exchanged penalties, before the Berkshire side crossed for the first try to make it 8-3.

On 35 minutes, White dived over, but the hosts switched off and the visitors profited with a converted try.

Grove responded as Joe Chilvers went over and converted to make it 15-15.

Two penalties gave the visitors a 21-15 lead shortly after the break.

But the impressive White boosted the hosts’s hopes when he crashed over to bring them within a point.

Another penalty stretched Reading’s lead further, but with nine minutes to go Simon Peel drove over to give Grove a 25-24 advantage.

However, chasing another score, the hosts were caught out on 75 minutes as a loose pass led to an interception try.

Grove desperately needed a try and they got it when White sped over to spark jubilant celebrations.

Burrows praised White, who is due to move back to New Zealand after Saturday’s game.

He said: “Brendon wanted to be sent off with a bang at his last home game and he certainly did that.”

In Southern Counties North, Wallingford beat Drifters 32-13.

Abingdon lost 10-8 at home to Tadley in the BB&O Premier, while in the Championship Faringdon saw off Berkshire Shire Hall 43-20, Harwell were beaten 36-5 by Phoenix and Didcot went down 21-19 at Littlemore.