WITNEY were unable to make the most of a favourable wind in the second half as they lost 17-5 at home to Newbury Blues in South West I East on Saturday.

After playing into the elements, Witney trailed only 7-0 at half-time to a try scored by centre Joshua Love, converted by Dan Thorne.

After the interval, Witney scored an early try from centre Matt Clarke, who came into the line and touched down to the right of the posts.

The conversion was missed and Witney could not score again.

Thorne kicked a penalty awarded for offside, before converting full back Joshua Bartlett’s try to seal Newbury’s victory.

SOUTH West 1 East

P W D L F A Pts

Maidenhead 9 8 0 1 301 163 39

Old Patesians 9 8 0 1 250 118 37

Newbury Blues 9 7 0 2 273 140 36

Wootton Bassett 9 6 0 3 221 131 28

Grove 9 5 0 4 200 216 26

Centralians 9 5 0 4 236 207 25

Reading Abbey 9 5 0 4 151 172 23

Witney 9 4 0 5 167 159 21

Swindon 9 4 0 5 163 182 18

Banbury 9 3 0 6 187 240 17

Ox Harlequins 9 3 0 6 118 224 14

Windsor 9 2 0 7 166 263 13

Reading 9 2 0 7 116 202 12

Chippenham 9 1 0 8 164 296 10