WITNEY’S clash with Oxford Harlequins went to form – but the South West 1 East derby was closer than the 31-12 scoreline suggests.
Quins led 12-11 at the break and exerted plenty of pressure in the second half, without making the breakthrough.
Witney’s greater cutting edge saw them seal a four-try bonus point in the final stages after visiting hooker Chris Davies was sent off.
A pair of penalties from Phil Thomas put the hosts 6-0 up inside eight minutes.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested, but Witney extended their advantage on the quarter-hour mark.
Robert Coe burst through, before drawing the last tackle and offloading to Sam Collins for an 11-0 lead.
Quins responded within five minutes.
Huw Diamond’s chip forward led to a lineout on the five-metre line and their big pack, which had already impressed, drove George Tierney over the line.
Witney missed two tough penalties and instead fell behind on the stroke of half-time, when Davies emerged from a maul to touch down.
Sam Watkinson converted to send the visitors in one point ahead.
The hosts took just five minutes after the restart to regain the lead, when captain Gareth Campbell dived over.
A Thomas penalty opened up a 19-12 advantage, before Quins came on strongly again, but this time their pack could not force their way through, even with Collins picking up a yellow card.
As fog descended it was then Quins’ turn to be reduced to 14 men when Davies saw red, allowing Witney to score late tries from Campbell, converted by Henry Lamb, and Matt Clarke.
In the BB&O Championship, Chipping Norton routed visitors Aldermaston 60-0.
LATEST TABLE
SOUTH WEST 1 EAST
P W D L F A Pts
Maidenhead 14 12 0 2 511 264 61
Old Patesians 14 13 0 1 372 198 60
Newbury Blues 14 10 1 3 409 232 52
Witney 14 7 0 7 318 268 38
Banbury 14 7 1 6 321 324 37
Grove 13 7 0 6 279 276 36
Wootton Bassett 14 7 0 7 336 269 35
Old Centralians 14 6 2 6 353 332 35
Reading Abbey 14 7 1 6 238 264 34
Windsor 14 5 1 8 285 388 29
Chippenham 14 4 0 10 273 398 23
Swindon 14 4 0 10 236 334 20
Ox Harlequins 13 3 0 10 192 406 14
Reading 14 2 0 12 167 337 13
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