Southern Counties North

Neil Penny scored as hat-trick of tries as Chipping Norton boosted their chances of avoiding the drop with a 46-3 home victory over already-relegated Bicester.

Andy Dawson’s side are now one point from safety with two games in hand on the teams above them.

Chippy were 19-0 ahead after 20 minutes, with Penny, Chris Dixon and Adam Smith scoring tries and Smith adding two conversions.

Penalties from Smith and Bicester’s Steve Risbridger made it 22-3 at half-time.

Chippy picked the pace up from the restart, Barry Nutt and Penny scoring after great forward pressure gave the backs the platform.

The home defence held firm under severe pressure and added 14 points when Bicester started to tire.

Tom Hall grabbed one and Penny completed his tally, with Smith converting both.

Witney ensured at least a play-off spot with a 31-0 victory at Newbury Stags.

No other side can deny them second place, while winning all their remaining games will see them promoted as champions.

Newbury's pack began with real intent, but Witney took the lead when fly half Henry Lamb raced through a gap for the opening try, converted by full back Ed Mitchem.

Scrum half Gareth Campbell's break almost led to a second try, but a Mitchem penalty made it 10-0.

A loose Stags kick led to Witney's next score, with Mitchem, wing James Monks and Gareth Campbell all combining for an excellent try finished by wing Lewis Collins.

Mitchem converted this and it was 17-0 at the break, although flankers Carl Campbell and Tim Muller both went close.

No 8 Joe Rowles and hooker Sam Collins both threatend before Henry Lamb exploited another gap for his second try, converted by Mitchem.

Centre Aaron Tustin's tackling helped Witney keep Newbury out, while Monks and prop Jamie Burke could not convert good chances.

More tries loomed, but captain James Lamb was controversially recalled for a foot in touch and Carl Campbell denied by a forward pass.

Replacement flanker Will Mac-Burnie did manage the fourth try showing great strength to get over, Mitchem converting.

Grove could not recover from a disastrous start as they lost 31-23 at home to Swindon.

They trailed 24-3 at half-time, with fly half Roger Sevier’s penalty their only score.

Grove had lock James Kerr sin-binned early on and they took until just before the break to get going.

The second half began with flanker Guy Nicholl scoring from a great solo run, while Nick Sevier’s break almost created a second try.

Flanker Jamie Fredericks smashed his way over, with Roger Sevier converting and adding a penalty, after a Swindon sin-binning, to make it 24-18.

Grove’s hopes were ended when scrum half Nick Hayes’s clearance was changed down for a converted try.

No 8 Ben Nicholl ran in a third Grove try from halfway, but there was no way back.