Witney may have jumped from fifth to first after beating Maidenhead, but they are not yet considering promotion.

Saturday’s bonus-point victory took Witney back to the summit of a very congested South West 1 East.

However, joint coaches Phil Harper and John Campbell are not publicly contemplating a second straight promotion, having won Southern Counties North last season.

Harper said: “We are just very pleased to be in the top five. If we can finish there, that will be fine.

“The teams we beat at the beginning have ended up at the bottom, now we are starting to play the better sides.”

Campbell added: “I am not surprised where we are because of the hard work we have put in.”

Witney will look to consolidate top spot by winning at Wimborne on Saturday – a result which would aid fellow Oxfordshire side Wallingford’s relegation battle.

WALLINGFORD 3rd saw their BB&O Division 2 South clash with Slough 2nd abandoned after the visitors refused to play the second half.

Hosts Wallingford led 17-3 at the break and captain Guy Hewitt expects they will be awarded the victory.

“Slough failed to deliver a full team,” said Hewitt.

“They started with 12 players and said three were in transit.

“They had a player red-carded in the first half and decided not to play on at half-time.”

NAOMI Eckers bagged a brace of tries as Witney Angels kick-started their South East West 2 campaign with a 29-0 victory over Kilburn Cosmos.

Also on target were Catherine Forteath, Kelly Ebanja and Emma Patterson, who added two conversions.