TOM Clipsham scored two tries as Grove began their South West 1 East campaign with a commanding 39-12 bonus-point victory over local rivals Oxford Harlequins at Cane Lane on Saturday, writes Jack Johnson.

Fly half Mike Martin also kicked 12 points on his debut for the south Oxfordshire side.

Two Martin penalties gave Grove a 6-0 lead after 16 minutes, before the game became stop-start with infringements.

Quins prop Pete Boulton was sin-binned, but was unable to come back on after he suffered a nasty gash to his knee, which required 11 stitches.

Richard Battson also rolled his ankle, leaving Quins with only two front row forwards.

The visitors finally got off the mark on 38 minutes, when Quins spread the ball out wide and full back Tom Tierney ran in from his own 22-metre line.

But they were unable to edge in front, as Huw Dimond’s conversion slipped wide.

It proved a crucial miss, as Martin slotted a penalty on the stroke of half-time to give Grove a 9-5 lead.

After the break, there was only really one team in it as the hosts scored five tries.

Quins were not helped by the earlier injuries, which led to uncontested scrums and the loss of a player, leaving them with 14 men.

Martin was held up just short of the line, but Grove sprayed the ball wide, where Clipsham dived over.

Martin missed the conversion, but minutes later slotted a penalty for 17-5.

Grove had the upper hand and debutant Graeme Crapper squeezed over for an unconverted try, before Cash Chilvers darted through a gap to dive over, despite the best efforts of Alan Purchase.

The visitors reduced the deficit with nine minutes remaining, as winger Axel Poulet dotted down after a loose ball and Dimond added the extras.

But Grove rubbed salt in their wounds with late tries.

Clipsham danced through and crossed for his second, which Nick Sevier converted, and Simon Cramp touched down on 80 minutes.