Grove could not hang on to a 19-5 interval lead and saw victory snatched away from them in the dying minutes as they went down 20-19 at Towcestrians in South West 1 East.

Tom Clipsham, playing in the unusual position of fly half, opened the scoring for Grove with a clever show-and-go try which Guy Nicholl converted.

Nicholl then played a part in Grove’s second try, putting in a mighty hand-off and simultaneously flicking the ball to supporting winger Alex Morgan who glided over in the corner.

Grove’s hooker Steve Dixey was yellow-carded for stamping and Towcestrians took advantage to score an unconverted try.

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The visitors then lost prop Jimmy Wallbridge with a badly dislocated finger.

When back to their full complement, Grove surged further ahead when lock Mark Tugwell was driven over Nicholl’s simple conversion made it 19-5 at the break.

Injury-hit Grove then lost Alex Morgan with a pulled hamstring, but the strain was telling on their depleted ranks and Towcestrians pulled back with a converted try.

With some 15 minutes still to go Grove were now clearly hanging on.

A penalty goal to the home side made it 19-15.

The pressure eventually told as Towcestrians scored a pushover try at the death to snatch a dramatic success.

Witney ended their sequence of five successive defeats with a resounding 25-14 victory at home to Newbury Blues.

The hosts led 15-7 at the break with tries from No 8 Joe Rowles and centre Jacob Thomas.

They extended the lead with second-half tries from full back James Monks and replacement Jamie Burke, before Newbury scored their second converted try late on.

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