Southern Counties North

Witney were made to work hard for a 30-3 derby victory over Chipping Norton at Hailey Road.

Full back Ed Mitchem’s penalty calmed Witney after they struggled to get past a stubborn Chippy defence.

The Lamb brothers, Henry and James, set up wing James Monks for the hosts’ opening try, Mitchem converting.

A forward pass from centre Carl Strutt halted a chance for wing Lewis Collins, but a second Mitchem penalty made it 13-0.

Chippy managed a penalty from Adam Smith before the break.

Collins ran back a loose kick for an opportunist try and Mitchem converted for 20-3.

Lock Owen Fowler impressed for Witney, while centre James Lamb and scrum half Gareth Campbell made good breaks.

Witney’s forward power was shown with a pushover try for No 8 Jez Hicks.

Flanker Tim Muller went close before replacement wing Aaron Lambourne stretched over for try No 4.

Defeat leaves Chippy in real relegation trouble, but the spirit they showed bodes well.

Bicester were relegated after a 62-5 defeat at leaders Amersham & Chiltern.

Their 17th straight league loss leaves them 11 points from safety with only ten to play for.

Left wing Jack Kenyon put Amersham ahead with a third-minute try.

A fumble at a scrum allowed Bicester No 8 and captain Dan Spencer to pounce for an equalising try.

But No 8 Paul Fagan, wing Tom Fletcher and Kenyon all crossed for Chiltern before half-time.

A second-half blitz saw Amersham score through Fagan, centre Neil Foster, fly half Ross Budgen, Kenyon, scrum half Edward Ngatai and centre Lewis Culverhouse.

Full back Dan Kinskey kicked six conversions.

Grove won a thriller 30-29 at Slough, despite having three men sin-binned in the second half.

Guy Nicholl scored a brace of tries, both from charge-downs, while replacement Jamie Fredericks also crossed over.

Fredericks, Ben Law and Jamie Burns were yellow-carded for what Grove felt were minor offences.

Roger Sevier kicked three conversions and three penalties, while young replacement hooker Ed Church shone on his league debut.