Oxford Harlequins’ 11-match winning streak in South West 1 East ended at Maidenhead on Saturday as they went down 24-19.
A Quins side showing six changes from the previous week’s narrow win over Grove, paid the price for a below-par performance, but still remain top.
Maidenhead went ahead when full back James O’Reilly squeezed over in the corner on seven minutes.
Home flanker Josh Curtis was yellow-carded, but they increa-sed their lead when centre Jon Heron kicked a penalty.
Quins hit back with right wing Spencer Coggins slicing through the home defence for a fine opportunist try which fly half Will Hilton converted, making it 8-7 at the break.
Two more Heron penalties edged Maidenhead ahead, but Quins rallied and after good work by skipper Luke Brown, flanker Ben Selby created the opening for No 8 Jamie Cope to score a fine try, which Hilton converted for 14-14.
Quins then took the lead for the first time as hooker Dylan Rodrigues went over to make it 19-14.
Back came Maidenhead, with Josh Curtis scoring a try which Heron converted to edge them ahead again 21-19 and another Heron penalty two minutes from time sealed the points.
Grove went down 20-18 against Reading, but should have won after landing only one of five kickable place kicks.
Apart from a spectacular try from wing Harry Carr, the first half was a lacklustre affair.
Reading led with a try after 12 minutes, winger Carr replying after dancing his way past several defenders, but then missing the relatively simple conversion.
A converted Reading try made it 12-5 at the break.
For the second half, Grove reshuffled their backs.
Carr intercepted a wayward Reading pass to shoot over for his and Grove’s second try. This time Dave Johnson missed the kick.
A fortunate breakaway try edged Reading further ahead at 17-10, but Grove came back as Dave Maryon reduced the arrears with a penalty.
With ten minutes remaining, Grove went on all-out attack, and were rewarded when No 8 Rory Gratwohl broke through to touch down, giving his side the lead for the first time.
The crucial conversion attempt was again missed and a long-range penalty kick which sailed between the posts saw Reading ahead again. Guy Nicholl beat everyone except the final defender in the dying seconds.
Witney lost 32-22 at Windsor. Thom Murton and Scott Mortimer scored tries, with Henry Lamb landing three penalties and a drop goal.
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