Witney returned to the top after a fortunate 11-6 victory at neighbours Chipping Norton in Southern Counties North.

With the wind behind them in the opening 40 minutes, Witney found the Chippy defence difficult to break through and had only two Henry Lamb penalties to show for their efforts.

Winger Louie Collins produced superb defensive work as Witney struggled to get a clear platform and find any real pattern to their play, which often looked hurried.

Lock Owen Fowler crossed the line, but the referee had failed to play advantage and Witney had to go back for a scrum.

Chippy were level only 15 minutes into the second half after kicking two penalties.

They battered the Witney line with a fine forward drive and one of their players slid over for what looked a clear score, but the referee failed to see the ball grounded and pulled them back for a scrum.

Witney lost Will Worrall to the sin-bin, and as the Chippy pack drove on again a score looked inevitable, but replacement flanker Carl Campbell cleverly slid in underneath the ball carrier.

Witney edged back up the field and from a scrum, they trundled forward and scored through No 8 Jimi Collis Grove's 28-27 loss at Tadley looks to have ended their promotion hopes.