Witney moved within an ace of top spot in Southern Counties North after thrashing Newbury Stags 44-5 at Hailey Road.

Stags scored first with a breakaway try, but Witney replied with two penalties from full back Ed Mitchem.

In between, they lost No 8 Jez Hicks to a cheekbone injury.

Wing James Monks stretched over for the hosts’ first try and Mitchem’s third three-pointer made it 14-5.

Wayne Caffekey, now at No 8, bagged tries No 2 and 3, Mitchem converting one and adding a penalty.

Witney had to withstand a Stags onslaught after the break, but sealed victory when wing Lewis Collins scamper over to complete a fine move, Mitchem converting.

Mitchem’s good day with the boot continued with another successful penalty.

Scrum half Gareth Campbell bagged Witney’s final try after a break from fly half Henry Lamb.

Centre Jamie Burns grabbed a hat-trick of tries, including the late winner, as leaders Grove won 22-18 at Swindon.

Swindon led 6-3 early on, with two penalties cancelling out one fromRoger Sevier.

Burns side-stepped through for his first try after a break from full back John Barrett.

A controversial try put Swindon 11-8 ahead, while Grove were unlucky that the referee denied scrum half Will MacKenzie the advantage, recalling play as he ran clear.

Burns’s second try came with ten minutes to go and fly half Sevier slotted over for 15-11.

A converted try saw Swindon retake the lead, but Burns struck for a third time with 90 seconds left and Sevier converted from the touchline.

Bicester’s woeful form continued with a 57-7 home hammering by Milton Keynes.

The visitors led 23-7 at half-time after playing down the slope.

Scrum half Dan Pearson scored two tries, with fly half Phil Powell converting both and adding three penalties to their tally.

Bicester scrum half Andrew Morris darted across for their only score, with fly half Tom Barnes adding the extras.

A bout of fisticuffs saw Bicester skipper Dan Spencer and Milton wing Gareth Davies yellow-carded after the break.

The visitors added further tries through Fred Jensen, Mike Dean, Deven Rolfe, Hugo Rockefeller, David Matthews and Hugh Fredericks.

Chipping Norton’s 100 per cent record was dashed by a 25-3 defeat at Windsor.