Witney 22, Maidenhead 5

Witney's excellent season went up another gear with this comprehensive victory that took them back to the top of South West 1 East.

Maidenhead came to Hailey Road top of the table having won their last six matches, but they were knocked off course by a tide of Witney pressure.

The hosts ran in four tries to secure a bonus point and dominated the game tactically and territorially.

Witney’s superior fitness again made a big difference, but there was no lack of skill on show.

The hosts had to defend well initially, but when they got the ball moving, Maidenhead had little answer.

Lock Marc Copperwheat bagged the opening try on nine minutes after some superb off-loading from prop Matt Calley and flanker Will Worrall.

Full back Henry Lamb converted and Witney came close to a second try two minutes later after wing Lewis Collins and Worrall led a swift counter attack.

Maidenhead found no way through and centre David Johnson spilled the ball after a powerful tackle from wing James Monks.

Collins was soon racing in for Witney’s second try after centre James Lamb slipped him a quick pass.

Maidenhead were making frequent errors and were caught flat-footed when Witney No 9 Phil Gouldie picked up from the base and scorched away for their third try from 40 metres.

The best Maidenhead could muster was an errant penalty kick from their fly half Ed Keohane, but surely they would regroup after the break?

Instead Witney played with great control and maturity to keep the ball in the visitors’ half as French fly half Pierre Dubost probed away.

The hosts lost flanker Tim Muller to a rib injury, but it didn’t disrupt their rhythm.

Try No 4 was a triumph for patience when it came on 63 minutes.

Witney had rucked and mauled for several minutes before they finally created space on the right and James Lamb powered over.

Maidenhead won a series of penalties in the final quarter, but lacked any cutting edge.

Worrall was sin-binned for killing the ball before the visitors were finally able to put wing Simon Cripps over in the corner.

That was only a consolation, while Witney go from strength to strength.

Witney: H Lamb, J Monks, Strutt, J Lamb (capt), L Collins, Dubost, Gouldie, Burke (Richardson 56), S Collins, Calley, M Copperwheat, Bennett, Worrall, Muller (C Campbell 56), J Hicks. Rep not used: McRoberts.

Referee: D Conway (Oxfordshire).

Man-of-the-match: Gouldie.