TWO tries from winger Henry Lamb helped Witney to a comfortable 27-10 derby victory over Grove in Southern Counties North.

But they had to endure an early barrage from Grove's big pack before taking control at Hailey Road.

Witney conceded a string of penalties in the opening quarter, but were never made to pay.

From one of these, Grove centre Nick Sevier was just wide in the fifth minute despite a decent strike.

Witney's defence stood firm with fly half Ollie Smith showing great consistency and length in his clearances.

The hosts took the lead against the run of play on 22 minutes when a slick backs move allowed centre Carl Strutt to cross over in the corner.

Smith missed a sitter of a penalty four minutes later, but more significantly Grove's back struggled to find touch with their clearances.

Henry Lamb couldn't hold a scoring pass from flanker Will Worrall on 35 minutes, but play was brought back and Smith slotted the penalty.

Grove prop Robin Smith was sin-binned on 38 minutes, but Witney failed to make their extra man count.

Worrall and fellow flanker Tim Muller continued to have plenty of ball, but Witney got lucky on 43 minutes when Grove scrum half Stevie Lawrence raced through a gap.

Lawrence looked to have the pace to get over, but panicked and flung a wild pass, which Strutt intercepeted.

The hosts pushed on after the break and should have gone further ahead when Smith sliced a penalty wide.

Full back Tom Harper capped an excellent game with try No 2 when he burst through after 53 minutes and Smith converted from out wide.

Sevier made it 15-3 with a penalty two minutes later.

Witney wrapped up victory on 58 minutes when Strut's charge created room for Henry Lamb to scamper over on the left and Smith converted.

Tensions had been growing through the second half and they blew up in an ugly scuffle that saw Grove hooker Jimmy Wallbridge emerge with his face covered in blood.

While this going on near the half-way line, Henry Lamb sprinted through for his second try.

There were still 12 minutes to go and Grove kept battling.

With Wallbridge and prop Richard Keane both off injured, the referee went for uncontested scrums.

Grove took full advantage in the 79th minute when centre Jamie Burns raced through a static defence for a fine individual try that Sevier converted.

Witney: Harper, Purkiss, C Strutt, J Lamb, H Lamb, O Smith, G Campbell, B Williams, G Williams, Gosling (Dore 63), Richens (C Campbell 63), S Chatterton (capt), Worrall, Muller, Collis.

Grove: D Maryon (Sheppard 59), Peel, N Sevier, Burns, Charleston, P Maryon, Lawrence, Smith, Wallbridge (Amies 71), Keane (Walsh 54), Miles, Turner, Wright, Smith (Walsh 40-44), Smart (capt).

Man-of-the-match: Harper.