Southern Counties North

GROVE maintained their promotion push with a 31-10 victory at Olney, who had lost only one previous home game this season.

The Cane Lane side will guarantee a play-off by winning their final two matches, but their hopes of landing the title could depend on Buckingham’s clash with Reading Abbey tomorrow night.

Grove lost flanker Simon Peel with a dislocated elbow inside two minutes, but took the lead with a try from wing Guy Nicholl, converted by full back Roger Sevier.

He also kicked one penalty after a good run from his brother, centre Nick Sevier, and another on 15 minutes.

Olney got on the board with a penalty, but Guy Nicholl’s second try made it 18-3.

The hosts scored a converted try before half-time.

Roger Sevier’s third penalty made it 21-10 on 44 minutes, but Grove had prop Pat Wiltshire sin-binned.

Grove’s seven-man pack won a scrum penalty, which Roger Sevier converted.

No 8 Ben Nicholl charged down an Olney clearance to run in a try, converted by Roger Sevier.

Grove fly half Dave Maryon and the home No 8 were yellow-carded after a fracas, but the visitors could not force a bonus point.

Walllingford battled back to earn a four-try bonus point in a 41-27 defeat at leaders Milton Keynes.

The hosts led 27-0 at half-time, with Dan Pearson (3), Gavin Whitehead and Dan Rolfe crossing over and Phil Powell converting one.

Wallingford came out fired up, with No 8 Kris Blaszko latching on to fly half Olli Henderson’s chip for their opening try.

Hooker Henry Zaluzny crashed over from the back of a driving maul.

Milton Keynes replied through Whitehead, while Alex Trivino went over late on, Powell converting both.

In between, centre Angus Brettell scored for Wallingford after linking well with wing Henry Pooler, while replacement Mario Da Silva bagged their fourth. Henderson slotted two conversions.

Alchester went down 26-12 at Thatcham.

Matt Dye and Matt Flegg went over for the visitors, with Flegg converting the former.

But Vic Reeve, Luke Evans, Ashley Taylor and Rob Horne scored for Thatcham, Matt Billinghurst converting the first three.