South West Division 2 East - Witney 3 Chinnor 22

Chinnor powered to the top of the table with a 22-3 victory over a vailiant Witney side at a wet and windy Hailey Road on Saturday.

With the rain hammering down, Witney elected to face the elements in the first half, and immediately found themselves on the back foot.

The home defence in the opening period was extremely tight, the back row of Will Worrall, John Campbell and Martin Lyall halting Chinnor at every turn.

However, Chinnor's first try came from a Witney defensive kick that failed to find touch.

Strong-running centre Darren Oxley collected the ball superbly in the conditions, before sending in right-wing Josh Jones for a try that Conor Begley converted from the touchline.

Five minues later, Chinnor extended their lead further with a well-worked forwards try from Matt Cooke.

The Witney front five competed well in all areas, with Alan Richens collecting solid ball in the lineout.

The experienced Andy Gosling, at tight head, was also influential as the Chinnor pack failed to make any great impression.

Witney, with skipper Martin Lyall to the fore, took the game to Chinnor at the start of the second period, and fly half Francis Grant, making his first start of the season, slotted over a penalty.

The home side's tails were up when Chinnor No 8 Paul Hennessey was sent to the sinbin following some backchat to the referee.

But the visitors, dictating the line-outs, kept control of the ball and Begley landed a penalty to make it 15-3.

Witney full back Luke Hollick made some promising breaks, but Chinnor sealed the game when scrum half James Walkinshaw darted down the side of a ruck to score under the posts for Begley to add the extra points.