SOUTH WEST 1 EAST

TWO tries from James Monks helped Witney get off to a flier with a 39-15 victory over Bletchley at Hailey Road.

The full back touched down twice in a first half that ended with Witney 24-3 ahead.

Centre Carl Strutt opened the the try-scoring for Witney on four minutes, but Bletchley soon replied with a penalty.

Monks joined the line to burst through for his first try after 10 minutes, with fly half Henry Lamb converting.

Centre Matt Clarke cut inside for No 2, which Lamb again converted, before Monks ran through for the bonus-point score.

Wing Ben Fisk made it 29-3 with a solo effort, but Bletchley hit back with a try of their own. Lamb then slotted a penalty before home flanker Stuart Catherall was sin-binned.

Bletchley added a second converted try, but Witney scrum-half Gareth Campbell darted over in stoppage time, Lamb converting.

Grove lost 35-13 at Swindon in their opener.

Swindon took the lead with an early penalty before Grove lost hooker Steve Dixey to a head wound. The hosts added a converted try, with Grove full back Roger Sevier landing a penalty.

However, two converted tries and a penalty put Swindon 27-3 up in the second half.

Grove scrum-half Joe Chivers then scored a brace of tries either side of a Swindon penalty and a converted try to seal their bonus-point win.

Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.

Latest Sport news