WITNEY made it three successive home victories when beating Reading Abbey 24-16 at Hailey Road.

The visitors enjoyed the early territory, but the west Oxfordshire side struck first in the South West 1 East clash.

George Lewis jinked his way over on 15 minutes and Henry Lamb added the extras.

But they soon trailed 11-7, when Oliver Walton crossed, before kicking two penalties.

It was Witney, though, who went into the break with their noses in front, after they were awarded a penalty try for repeated offences. Lamb converted.

The hosts made it 19-11 on 43 minutes, when James Merriman steamed over.

Carl Campbell was sin-binned for Witney, but they did not concede while a man down.

And on 66 minutes they put the game beyond their visitors as Alex Foggett dived over.

Abbey’s Sam Hallett crossed for a try on 78 minutes, but Witney had already done enough.

Banbury lost 40-31 against Old Centralians at Bodicote Park.

The hosts made a number of mistakes, conceding four tries in the first half.

Bulls only trailed 14-12 at one point, thanks to four Ed Phillips penalties, but two interception tries saw the visitors lead 24-12 at the break.

Old Cents had a player sin-binned and Banbury took full advantage to level, thanks to tries from Jack Briggs and Phillips.

But the home side’s leaky defence proved costly as they continued to concede.

Cash Chilvers’s try for Banbury made it 35-31, only for the visitors to score again and seal victory.

Oxford Harlequins lost 41-20 at fellow strugglers Swindon.

Adam Westall converted his own try for the hosts, but Quins led 10-7, when Jack Robinson crossed twice.

However, Swindon led 20-10 at half-time, thanks to a Westall penalty and Sam Williams try.

Jordan Sheppard’s score extended their advantage, but Quins hit back to make it 27-20, when Allan Purchase crossed and Robinson completed his hat-trick.

Swindon, though, scored two tries in the last four minutes through Sheppard and Johnny Morrison for a flattering scoreline.

Grove beat Maidenhead 10-5.