WITNEY put in a below-par performance to lose 21-16 at Reading and suffer their first defeat of the season.

The west Oxon side headed into the South West 1 East clash bidding for a fourth successive win.

But they came unstuck in Berkshire, where the hosts opened up an early 13-0 lead, thanks to two unconverted tries and a penalty.

A rare period of pressure saw Witney’s Deaglan Bartlis pushed over for an unconverted try to cut the deficit at the break.

Matt Clarke then slotted a penalty at the start of the second half.

Reading responded with three points to make it 16-8, but Arron Lambourne’s unconverted score boosted Witney’s hopes.

However, the hosts hit back with a try to make it 21-13, before a Clarke penalty set up a tense finish.

Witney pushed for a further score, but had Clarke sin-binned late on.

They now bid to bounce back when they welcome Grove, who are on a three-match winning run, to Hailey Road on Saturday.

There was only one game played in the BB&O Championship, with Chipping Norton going top despite suffering a 15-14 defeat to Aldermaston.