SOUTH WEST 1 EAST

A DEPLETED Grove side battled back to defeat morning leaders Windsor 30-24 at Cane Lane.

Grove, who were without props Tim Lane and Martyn Walsh, plus centres Tom Clipsham and Joe Bellinger due to injury and work commitments, trailed for most of the match.

But full back Roger Sevier’s sixth penalty and scrum half Owen Gustafson’s try sealed a first victory of the season.

Scrum half Rhys Davies opened the scoring with a try for Windsor, who led 8-6 after a penalty from full back James Driscoll cancelled out two from Sevier.

Wing Harry Carr went close for Grove, while Driscoll and Sevier added a penalty apiece.

Davies’s second try, despite a despairing tackle by Dave Wells, and Driscoll’s conversion made it 18-9, but two Sevier penalties reduced the arrears either side of half-time.

Windsor led 24-15 on 65 minutes, thanks to two Driscoll penalties.

But Carr flew in for a try from centre Ben Nicholl’s pass and Sevier converted.

Sevier’s sixth penalty made it 25-24 with five minutes left before Gustafson stole the ball from a Windsor scrum and touched down the try.

Witney made it two wins from three after a strong finish secured a 42-24 success at Cheltenham.

A sloppy start saw the visitors trail 14-0 to two converted tries.

A pushover try from No 8 Joe Rowles, converted by fly half Phil Thomas, began Witney’s recovery.

Thomas scored himself and then converted a solo try from centre David Hyde to leave Witney 19-14 up at the break.

Full back Robbie Mills went over from Hyde’s pass. Thomas converted and added a penalty.

With Witney losing concentration, Cheltenham hit back with a penalty and a converted try, but Thomas landed a long-range drop goal.

Scrum half Gareth Campbell finished a flowing move for try No 5, converted by Thomas, who added a penalty.

Oxford Harlequins maintained their 100 per cent record, but wasted a hatful of chances in a 15-0 home victory over Reading.

Fly half Zach Norris kicked Quins ahead with a 26th-minute penalty.

Ten minutes later, centre Keni Fisilau and wing Dean Seals combined to set up a try for Norris.

No 8 Sam Bennett drove over for try No 2, which Norris converted.

Quins could not add to their tally in the second half, but had Bennett yellow-carded.