Southern Counties North

Nineteen points from the boot of full back Ed Mitchem helped leaders Witney to a 29-12 victory at Swindon.

Mitchem slotted the first of five penalties to open the scoring before wing James Monks went close.

A break from skipper James Lamb set up Witney’s opening try for returning centre Aaron Tustin, Mitchem converting.

Fly half Henry Lamb showed impressive pace to jink over for an individual try, which Mitchem converted from wide out.

Witney flanker Jez Hicks was yellow-carded just before half-time and Swindon responded with a try.

Mitchem kicked four more penalties in a physical second half, while Swindon managed a converted try and had two players sin-binned.

Chipping Norton’s 30-24 home victory over Slough was their first success since November 7.

The visitors led 17-0 early on, but Chippy responded with a Liam Busby penalty and a Barry Nutt try.

Tom Hall, Neil Stannard, Neil Penny and Chris Dixon all crossed the line for Chippy in the second half, with Busby adding one conversion.

Slough scored a late converted try.

Grove slipped to fourth in the table after self-destructing in a 24-19 home defeat to Beaconsfield.

The hosts lost scrum half Nick Hayes to flu before the match and flanker Lee Wright to concussion after just five minutes.

Full back Nick Tapping put Beaconsfield ahead with two penalties.

Grove had No 8 Ben Nicholl sin-binned for an alleged spear tackle, and Tapping kicked the penalty.

Two tries put Beaconsfield 19-0 ahead at half-time, but Nick Sevier’s powerful finish and Roger Sevier’s conversion gave Grove hope.

Beaconsfield managed a third score, but wing Simon Cramp’s try, converted by Roger Sevier, made it 24-14 with ten minutes left despite prop Jimmy Wallbridge’s yellow card.

Hooker Jon North scored Grove’s final try.

Bicester put in an improved display in a 26-15 home loss to Windsor.

Windsor full back James Driscoll kicked a penalty and then converted a try from wing Gary Morgan.

Bicester hit back with a penalty from scrum half Steve Riisbridger.

They equalised when hooker Gareth Evans was driven over for Risbridger to convert, despite No 8 Marau Tuiwai’s sin-binning.

It was 10-10 at half-time, but three penalties from Driscoll, who also converted a try from Chris Daplyn, sealed it for Windsor.

Bicester prop Will Morris was driven over for a consolation try.