South West 1 East

WITNEY were pipped 7-5 by Buckingham at Hailey Road after failing to match their visitors’ desire.

The hosts suffered an early blow when flanker Marc Copperwheat went off with a hamstring pull on two minutes.

Things got worse when Buckingham scored a converted try from a driven line-out.

Witney conceded a series of penalties and saw flanker Carl Campbell sin-binned.

After the break, Witney might have been awarded a penalty try, but the referee penalised them as the front rows stood up at a scrum.

Buckingham had a man yellow-carded before home wing Phil Gouldie was driven over.

Witney prop Mark Fuller chased back well to field a Buckingham kick through, but he could not inspire his side to carve out a victory.