Southern Counties North

GROVE boosted their promotion hopes with a 63-6 victory over Reading Abbey at Cane Lane.

The 11-try success, coupled with Milton Keynes’ home defeat to Olney, means that Grove need just two points from their final match to secure a play-off spot.

If Grove beat Milton Keynes at home on Saturday and Buckingham lose at Thatcham, the Oxfordshire side could be champions.

It was the Nicholl show for Grove in the first half, with No 8 Ben running in the first two tries and brother, wing Guy, bagging the next three.

This brought Guy’s tally to 33 for the season – a feat only his father Duncan has surpassed in Grove colours.

Full back Roger Sevier converted two of these, while Abbey fly half Joe Murphy slotted two penalties as Grove led 29-6 at the break.

Fly half Dave Maryon and centre Jamie Burns added to the try tally, Roger Sevier converting the former.

Grove wrapped it up, with centre Nick Sevier (2), wing Harry Carr and scrum half Owen Gustafson going over. Roger Sevier converted one.

Ben Nicholl and Abbey No 8 Fungai Mutepfa were sin-binned in separate incidents.

Alchester edged out visitors Wallingford 13-11, despite being down to 13 men for 20 minutes.

But Wallingford’s losing bonus point and Tadley’s 48-0 defeat at leaders Buckingham meant the south Oxfordshire side will at least avoid relegation.

The visitors also suffered an injury blow with Mike Ward breaking a leg.

Alchester full back Andy Harbottle knocked on as he tried to touch down his own chip kick for the opening try.

But centre Adam White managed that feat on 20 minutes, fly half Tom Miles adding the conversion.

Miles’s penalty made it 10-0, but play was held up for half an hour before Ward could be taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Wallingford hit back on the resumption when Tom Rowberry forced his way over.

Two penalties from Wallingford’s Will Bishop and one from Miles saw Alchester lead 13-11 at half-time.

No 8 Adam Thompson and flanker Dan Kimber were sin-binned for Alchester in quick succession, with prop Jamie Jones yellow-carded on Thompson’s return, but Alchester held on.