A STRONG second-half comeback proved in vain as Oxford Harlequins were beaten 36-21 at home by leaders Maidenhead.

The hosts started well and Huw Dimond converted his own try after 14 minutes of the South West 1 East clash.

But Maidenhead, watched by World Cup winner Will Greenwood, who assists the Berkshire club’s coaching team, raced into a 24-7 half-time lead.

Tries from Mike Parrott, Ed Keohane, Chris Bart and Perry Jansen did the damage.

Bart added a second score on 53 minutes, but Quins staged a brave comeback.

Adam Neal went over, before Sam Watkinson finished off a sweeping move.

Dimond converted both tries to make it 31-21.

But just as Quins eyed a couple of bonus points, Parrott’s breakaway try made sure of victory for Maidenhead.

Witney suffered a 48-10 defeat at Old Centralians.

The home side led 24-3 after half-an-hour, with only a Henry Lamb penalty putting the west Oxfordshire side on the scoreboard.

Alex Cox, Shay Morgan, Scott Fritchley and Lewis May went over for Cents. Harry Preece converted two of the tries.

Daniel Knapman had been sin-binned for the hosts on 30 minutes, but it was not until the stroke of half-time that Witney scored.

Gareth Campbell dived through a narrow gap and Lamb converted to make it 24-10.

Cents continued their dominance after the break though and tries from Nathan Stroud, Simon Price, Mike Mather and Mike Mumford secured victory.

Banbury fell to a 39-19 loss at Royal Wootton Bassett.

Cash Chilvers crashed over early on for Bulls, but the home side slowly gained a foothold and led 13-7, thanks to two tries and a penalty.

Bassett’s dominance continued and four further tries made it 39-7.

But Banbury found some form in the final 20 minutes, with tries from Chilvers and Jimmy Manley making the final score 39-19.

Grove beat Reading 26-21.