Roger Sevier was successful with all seven of his kicks for a 17-point haul as Grove opened up by beating fellow title hopefuls Milton Keynes 37-29 at Cane Lane in Southern Counties North.

Grove opened the scoring in the fourth minute, with George Rautenback running off Roger Sevier’s inside shoulder from a lineout and scything through near the posts.

A Milton Keynes player was sin-binned for a late challenge on Rautenback after he had scored.

Grove’s second try came ten minutes later from a lineout five metres from the Milton Keynes line.

Prop Richard Keen forced his way over, and this was quickly followed by a try from No 8 Jamie Fredericks, who latched on to a pass following a break by flanker Guy Nichol.

Milton Keynes hit back just before the break with a try from winger Dan Walker, but Grove turned around 27-5 up, with Sevier kicking all three conversions and two penalties.

With Grove reduced to 13 men in the second half with Guy Nichol and Will Mckenzie sin-binned, Milton Keynes took advantage and tries from scrum half Dan Pearson and captain Richard Hill reduced the deficit.

But then centre Ben Law scored the try of the game to reassert Grove’s grip after second row Rob Weaving took an inside pass from Jamie Burns and sprinted through the Milton Keynes midfield.

Milton Keynes hit back with a try from centre Dave Matthews, but Grove had already done enough.

Matt Dawson grabbed the winning try as Chipping Norton staged a second-half comeback to beat Newbury Stags 31-26 in front of a large crowd at Greystones.

A converted try saw Newbury take a 7-0 lead.

But Chipping Norton hit back when a well-worked back row move saw Niell Stannard go over for a try.

Adam Smith kicked the conversion and added a penalty to make it 10-7.

However, Chipping Norton were stunned as poor kicks and defensive lapses out wide allowed Newbury to bag a brace of tries just before the break and roar 21-10 ahead.

A half-time reshuffle saw Chipping Norton dominate the second half.

Three Smith penalties and a Neil Penny try saw them edge 24-21 ahead.

Newbury regained the lead with a try out wide.

But Chipping Norton made amends with a well- worked try from the kick-off, which ended with Dawson crashing over under the posts.

Smith added the extra points to clinch victory.

Witney recorded a nail-biting 14-10 victory at Amersham & Chiltern.

Ed Mitchem slotted a penalty to give Witney the lead, but then missed three more opportunities before he was on target again to make it 6-0 at the break.

Witney stretched further ahead in the second half with Carl Strutt going over for a try after the forwards had recycled the ball following darting runs by skipper James Lamb and Louie Collins. Mitchem narrowly missed the conversion.

Amersham hit back with hooker Jack Kenyon powering over for a try to make it 11-5.

Amersham again laid siege to the Witney line, and they looked to have blown a golden chance when they knocked on as they went over.

However, they maintained the pressure and their next surge saw Myburgh score out wide.

With the conversion missed, Witney led 11-10.

The visitors rallied and a Mitchem penalty gave them breathing space.

Amersham staged one last assault, but the final pass was dropped, leaving a relieved Witney to celebrate.