Southern Counties North: Witney paid the price for a poor first half as they lost 25-20 at unbeaten Swindon.

The hosts led 20-5 at the break, which proved too great a deficit to restore despite a spirited comeback.

Jez Hicks's side started slowly and lacked urgency in the opening 20 minutes as Swindon slotted two penalties.

Against the run of play, Witney broke from deep and Adam Hicks fed scrum half Gareth Campbell, who sped over for a try.

Swindon's pressure told as a converted score made it 13-5 and some ragged defence allowed them to bag another seven points.

Martin Lyall's appearance was the catalyst for Witney's second-half improvement, but they had to wait a long time to score.

A blindside move ended with Henry Lamb feeding his brother James to score under the posts and Ollie Smith converted.

Another Swindon try meant Smith's penalty and replacement Carl Strutt late score could not prevent a fourth successive league and cup loss.

A depleted Grove side unsurprisingly slumped to a 38-21 loss at Beaconsfield.

The visitors were without a dozen squad members, but led 7-0 when Nick Sevier converted prop Richard Keen's try.

Beaconsfield levelled almost immediately and strectched their lead to 14-7 after winning a scrum against the head.

Sevier's penalty reduced the gap, but an interception from Alan Awcock's pass gave the hosts a third converted try.

A penalty apiece, Sevier's second, made it 24-13 at the break, which Grove entered with John North in the sin-bin.

Beaconsfield responded to a Sevier penalty with a converted try, before he reduced the gap with a spectacular score.

The hosts closed with a late converted try.

Chipping Norton are level with Witney after losing 44-15 at Buckingham.