TWO tries from Carl Strutt helped Witney defeat west Oxfordshire rivals Chipping Norton 21-3 at Hailey Road in Southern Counties Nortth.

Despite the victory margin, this was a hard-earned two points that maintained Witney's 100 per cent record.

After a frantic opening, Witney started to gain ascendance in the scrums.

They had the first chance to open the scoring, but Tom Harper's penalty just drifted wide.

Good second-phase possession saw Witney cross for the first time through centre Strutt, who needed no second chance when given a half gap.

Fly half Harper added the conversion, but Chippy continued to make life difficult with their frenzied defence.

A good break from Harper saw Witney camped in the visitors' 22.

Scrum half Gareth Campbell made a great choice to switch the play and with a five on two overlap a score looked inevitable.

But his brother, flanker Carl, couldn't take a poor pass and the chance was lost.

Chippy rallied with a penalty to make it 7-3, Witney's Owen Fowler was sin-binned and Will Worrall stopped the visitors bagging a try.

Worrall and a Chippy centre were yellow-carded early in the second half.

Witney got the decisive score when winger Henry Lamb eluded some desperate tackles to ghost over, Harper again adding the two points.

Another flashpoint saw Witney coach Matt Watts himself sin-binned for dissent.

Witney No 8 Jim Collis drove forward to set up Strutt's second try, which Harper converted.

This more than made up for Strutt's earlier mistake when he kicked direct into touch.

If he had kept the ball infield, winger Phil Gouldie would have been in with a great chance of a score.

Grove moved up to third in the table after drawing 28-28 with Tadley at Cane Lane.