Grove recovered from a blistering Reading start to pull off a much-needed 15-12 win at Cane Lane.

The visitors raced into13-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a penalty followed by two quickly-taken, but unconverted, tries.

From then on Grove took control although they found it difficult to penetrate the solid Reading defence.

The Grove breakthrough came when scrum half Owen Gustafson fooled the defence, firing a neat inside pass to ubiquitous winger Guy Nicholl, who dotted down between the posts. Fly half Harry Carr converted to make it 13-7.

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Grove kept up the pressure at the start of the second half with good work from lock Rory Gratwohl and centre Brendon White.

Day gathered and, supported by wing Tom Wells, beat the defence in a great run to the line to bring Grove back to within a point, Harry Carr having missed the conversion.

Jimmy Wallbridge replaced Cash Chilvers before Carr’s long-range penalty edged the home side ahead.

Before the end, Grove hooker Steve Dixey received a yellow card.

The game was completed in virtual darkness when the referee incredibly played some 20 minutes of stoppage time, but Grove hung on without due alarm.

Witney were hammered 32-8 at home by Maidenhead.

With a low sun in their eyes in the first half, the host struggled after Henry Lamb had given them an early lead with a penalty goal.

Two tries from prop Mike Parrott and another by winger Tom Stileman plus two conversions and a penalty from fly half Mike Virgo gave Maidenhead a 19-3 interval lead.

Witney stand-off Matt Clarke gave Witney hope with a try early in the second half, but Lamb’s easy conversion struck a post.

The home side, with Clarke being shown a yellow card, spent the rest of the game on the defensive.

Virgo landed a penalty and converted a try from Ross Evans.

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