Southern Counties North

GUY Nicholl scored four tries and fellow wing Harry Carr three to propel Grove to a 64-22 victory over Thatcham.

Grove were always comfortable winners, despite taking their feet off the gas at the start of the second half.

Joe Bellinger added a double, while fellow centre Jamie Burns completed a ten-try tally.

Fly half Dave Maryon kicked three conversions, as did replacement Roger Sevier, while Carr added one himself.

Wallingford fought back to earn an 18-18 draw at morning leaders Reading Abbey.

Abbey opened up with two converted tries, which sandwiched a penalty from Wallingford fly half Oli Henderson.

Wallingford drove hooker Tom Hill over and Henderson’s drop goal made it 14-11 at the break.

Abbey added a penalty, while Hill and Wallingford replacement Dick Payne were sin-binned, but Henderson slotted two penalties to seal the draw.

Alchester’s three-match winning run ended with a 19-17 defeat at Drifters.

The visitors trailed 19-3 at the end of a miserable first half that saw fly half Tom Miles kick a penalty and wing Ben Ancil yellow-carded.

Andy Blacklock, who filled in at scrum half, gave Alchester hope with an intereption try on 60 minutes, converted by Miles.

Miles also converted a second try from Matt Beckley five minutes later, but Alchester could not snatch victory.