SAM Watkinson's last-minute penalty helped Oxford Harlequins fight back from the brink of defeat to edge Reading 16-15 and preserve their unbeaten home record.

Quins were facing a first loss of the season at Marston Ferry Road when Reading fly half Matt Smart slotted a 79th minute three-pointer in the South West 1 East clash.

But the hosts dug deep and Watkinson held his nerve in the last play of the game.

Quins started brightly, with No 8 Fotu Latu being stopped short, while Watkinson's seventh-minute penalty attempt smacked the right-hand post.

But Watkinson, who started at full back, made amends moments later, slotting a three-pointer for a 3-0 lead, before another effort fell just short.

Reading, who sit second bottom, levelled the match at 3-3 on 16 minutes through the boot of Smart, but Quins soon got their noses in front again, thanks to a Watkinson penalty.

There was only really one team in it, but Quins' eagerness to reach the try line proved to be their own downfall, with handling errors letting the visitors off the hook.

But in a sudden shift of momentum, Reading ended the half on top and should have led at the break.

On 35 minutes, Smart's penalty made it 6-6 and, with Quins becoming ill-disciplined, flanker Angus Milton was sent to the sin-bin for the hosts.

The home side started the second half well, but despite continuously knocking on the door they could not find a way through the stubborn Reading defence.

When Ashley Macnaughton was sin-binned for the away side, it looked as though Quins would take full advantage after Watkinson kicked the resulting penalty to the corner for a line-out on their opponents' five-metre line.

But it was a chance wasted as hooker Matt Edney's throw was deemed not straight.

Quins looked to the bench with Keni Fisilau and Kristian Borthwick replacing centre Huw Dimond and fly half Jack Avery.

This saw Watkinson move to his more familiar half back position and within seconds he combined with Fisilau to send Ed Yeates racing over the whitewash on 55 minutes.

Watkinson added the extras to make it 13-6, but that was to be their only try as Reading responded brilliantly.

Quins defended solidly despite being pinned in their own 22, before Edney was sin-binned on 63 minutes and Smart landed a penalty from out wide.

Reading were having the better of the scrums and moved to within a point with six minutes to go as Smart was, once again, on target, with Quins losing Freddie Exley to the sin-bin.

The hosts were up against it and Smart kicked another three-pointer with just a minute to go to make it 15-13.

But Quins showed real determination to ensure they avoided a first defeat at Marston Ferry Road and had the advantage when Reading knocked-on at the restart.

After pushing the visitors back to within kicking distance, the hosts were awarded a penalty for offside and Watkinson calmly stepped up to hammer the ball over the posts.

Witney were unable to make it sevens wins in a row as they fell to an 18-10 defeat at leaders Towcestrians.

An unconverted Callum Godfrey try gave the visitors a 5-0 lead, before Zak Osbourne went over in the corner to level after 20 minutes.

Two James Falvey penalties ensured the hosts led 11-5.

Witney responded with Rhys Morgan crossing to make it 11-10, but their fortunes waned and Dave Stocks dived over for the hosts.

Falvey added the extras to put the match to bed.

Grove suffered an eighth successive defeat, losing 31-20 at Swindon.