Grove boosted their hopes of promotion from Southern Counties North with a resounding 43-5 victory away to lowly Thatcham on Saturday.

Although the Rugby Football Union website indicated that Grove had returned to the top of the table with this win, they are, in fact, still second behind leaders Milton Keynes.

The teams are level on points, while Grove have the better points difference.

“But in this league, position is decided on the greater number of wins,” ex-plained Grove president John Sevier.

“I think it should be on points differenve, but Milton Keynes have won more games than us, so they are still top.”

However, if Grove win their last three matches – one of which is against Milton Keynes – they will be guaranteed at least a play-off position.

Grove scored an early try, but then conceded a soft score to Thatcham and so led only 7-5 after ten minutes.

However, with Ben Nicholl giving a dominant display at No 8, Grove were always in charge.

Two of their six tries were scored by hooker Steve Dixey, with the others coming from centre Tom Clipsham, lock Paul Miles and wingers Harry Carr and Guy Nicholl.

Roger Sevier had a good day with the boot, landing five conversions and a penalty for a tally of 13 points.

Wallingford are still perilously placed near the bottom of the table after suffering an expected 58-10 defeated at Buckingham, who – along with Milton Keynes and Grove – are challenging for the title.

Wallingford’s cause was not helped when prop Matt Pryor and flanker Tom Hill had to pull out on the morning of the match suffering from a virus. Both Wallingford’s tries – one in each half – came from Dan Sadler.