WITNEY picked up a bonus point in losing 22-15 at home to unbeaten leaders Maidenhead.

The west Oxfordshire side are now four games without a win in South West 1 East and sit seventh in the table.

Maidenhead scored an early try through No 8 Ross Muil, which Tom Finnie converted.

Alan Lambourne slotted a penalty for Witney, but the hosts missed two further kicks, before Finnie replied as the visitors led 10-3.

Witney went on to dominate the rest of the first period and crossed for a well-deserved try after spending long periods in Maidenhead’s half.

A missed pass from Matt Clarke found winger Lewis Collins, before Rhys Morgan dived over in the corner for an unconverted try to close the gap to two points.

The visitors looked out of sorts after the break, but Witney were unable to take advantage.

However, it did not take long before Maidenhead’s attack rediscovered their form and despite Muil being stopped just short of the line, his pass found Thompson who scored under the posts.

Finnie added the extras.

The hosts continued to dominate and Finnie was next to cross for an unconverted try to make it 22-8.

Witney were forced to keep their visitors at bay, but discovered a new lease of life with ten minutes remaining.

Collins burst through tackles to make up ground and fed centre Charlie Dyde who ran in from 30 metres.

Lambourne converted to reduce the arrears to seven points.

The hosts went in search of another score, but could not make their pressure count.

Head coach Tug Wilson’s side will now look to bounce back against Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday.

LATEST TABLES

SOUTH WEST 1 EAST

P W D L F A Pts

Maidenhead 7 7 0 0 221 118 32

Wootton Bassett 7 6 0 1 199 81 28

O Patesians 7 6 0 1 181 89 28

Newbury Bl 7 5 0 2 225 107 27

Grove 7 5 0 2 178 153 25

Centralians 7 4 0 3 174 145 20

Witney 7 3 0 4 129 125 16

Swindon 7 3 0 4 127 140 14

Reading Ab 7 3 0 4 89 131 14

Banbury 7 2 0 5 143 211 11

Reading 7 2 0 5 86 149 10

Chippenham 7 1 0 6 137 225 9

Windsor 7 1 0 6 122 218 8

Ox Harlequins 7 1 0 6 82 201 6

Berks, Bucks & Oxon

Championship

P W D L F A Pts

Littlemore 4 4 0 0 154 39 20

Wheatley 5 5 0 0 189 27 17

Oxford 5 3 0 2 139 100 14

C Norton 4 2 0 2 85 38 11

Berkshire Hall 4 2 0 2 40 74 8

Aldermaston 4 1 0 3 60 66 7

Harwell 4 1 0 3 56 117 5

Faringdon 5 1 0 4 48 160 5

Farnham Rl 5 1 0 4 40 190 4