Southern Counties North: GROVE pipped Oxfordshire rivals Witney 10-7 at Cane Lane on Saturday to make it two wins out of two.

As has become traditional in this fixture, either side could have come out on top, but it was Grove's sterling defence that won the day for the home side, having got their noses in front from a converted try and penalty to Witney's lone converted try.

It was 23 minutes before the deadlock was broken. Matt Watts's superb kick to the corner set up a lineout, leading to a try from second row Simon Chatterton. Tom Harper slotted the con- version.

Grove fought back, but dropped passes meant many of their attacks came to nothing.

Witney's handling was not much better and so the game was strewn with errors.

Eventually, Grove were awarded a penalty which fly half Dave Maryon slotted with a superb kick to narrow the gap to 7-3 at the break.

In the second half, the handling errors continued, but Grove's right wing, Gareth Hudson, roused the crowd when he beat his opposite number with a fine burst of speed before being bundled into touch.

It was Hudson who put Grove in front following a passing move along the backs which saw the winger touch down in the corner. Dave Maryon converted from the narrowest of angles.

Witney fought back hard, but tremendous defensive work from hooker Clint Dearmer, prop Richard Keen and centre Kevin Wood kept them at bay.

In the last five minutes, Witney had a chance to salvage a draw when they were awarded a penalty, but Tom Harper's kick went narrowly wide.

Chipping Norton recorded their first points of the season when they triumphed 17-12 away to Stow-on-the-Wold.