GROVE produced a clinical display to beat Banbury 36-28 in a bruising encounter at Bodicote Park.

The south Oxfordshire side crossed four times in the South West 1 East clash.

Hosts Banbury, who lost props Manu Paniagua and Ian Isham to injury in the second half, led 14-3 after 15 minutes, with Chris Phillips and Carl Daniels crossing. Ed Phillips converting both.

Grove’s Sam Vaughan kicked a penalty in between the scores.

Hooker Steve Dixey dotted down on 25 minutes for the visitors, with Vaughan adding the extras.

Ed Phillips kicked another penalty from the touchline, but their opponents went on to dominate.

Dave Wells went over for an unconverted try and, after Banbury’s Cash Chilvers was sin-binned, Josh Tyler burst through.

Vaughan added the extras for a 22-17 half-time lead.

Joe Chilvers was next to go over, with Vaughan, again, converting.

Two Ed Phillips penalties kept the home side in touch, but on 63 minutes Grove’s Connor Hull raced over and Vaughan kicked the points to make it 36-23.

The visitors had winger Phil Durant sin-binned and Banbury’s Max Titchener forced his way over for an unconverted try, but Grove had already done enough.

Witney continued their good start in a 26-8 home win over Chippenham.

Jake Thomas’s try, converted by Matt Clarke, made it 7-0 after 30 seconds.

Chippenham’s Harry Taylor and Witney’s Henry Lamb traded penalties.

Dominic Riccio then scored an unconverted try for the visitors.

Three Clarke penalties took Witney to 19-8, before Declan Bayliss went over.

Clarke converted to finish the scoring.

Oxford Harlequins lost 29-17 at Reading.

Harri Palmer-Edwards crossed for the hosts, with Rob Sweeney adding the extras.

But Quins hit back through Freddie Campbell’s try. Sam Watkinson converted.

Sweeney (2) and Watkinson exchanged penalties as Reading led 13-10.

But Quins made it 17-13 heading into the break, with Campbell crossing again and Watkinson adding the extras.

A Sweeney penalty closed the gap, before he converted a try to give Reading the lead.

The fly-half then kicked two penalties to seal victory.