WITNEY made a positive start under new head coach Adam Copperwheat when beating basement boys Stratford-upon-Avon 15-5 at home.

Rhys Morgan crossed twice as the west Oxfordshire side cut the gap to safety to nine points in South West 1 East.

Witney went in front early on when Morgan broke through to score an unconverted try.

Bicester Advertiser:

  • Winger Rhys Morgan goes over for his and Witney’s opening try against Stratford-upon-Avon Picture: Ric Mellis

Rikki Dore was sin-binned for the hosts and Stratford made the most of the man advantage to level the contest at half-time when Charles Powell crossed.

A Ted Landray penalty put Witney 8-5 in front on 51 minutes after a visiting player had been yellow-carded.

And with another Stratford body in the bin, the hosts made the most of their two-man advantage as Morgan crossed for his second try, Landray converting, to make it 15-5.

Witney captain Matt Clarke was sent off for a high tackle late on, but the home side claimed victory.

Bicester Advertiser:

  • Witney's Carl Campbell, Ted Landray and Callum Godfrey combine to stop a Stratford-upon-Avon player Picture: Ric Mellis

Banbury resisted a late comeback to beat second-placed Old Centralians 17-14 at home.

Bulls avoided a third successive defeat to close the gap to the play-off place to six points.

Joe Winpenny drove over early on for the hosts, Ed Phillips converting.

Old Cents levelled when Joe Preece raced across, Shay Morgan adding the extras.

But Banbury led 14-7 at the break, thanks to Tommy Gray’s try, Phillips converting.

Bicester Advertiser:

  • Joe Winpenny goes over for Banbury's opening try against Old Centralians Picture: Simon Grieve

A Phillips penalty extended their advantage to ten points.

But Sam Carr-Archer was yellow-carded for Banbury, who came under relentless pressure from Old Cents.

Michael Mathers went over, Morgan adding the extras, to reduce the arrears to three points with 30 seconds of regular time remaining.

Old Cents went in search of victory and Gray was sin-binned for Banbury, but Bulls heroically held on.

  • Tommy Gray crosses during Banbury's victory over Old Centralians Video: Banbury RUFC

Oxford Harlequins secured a hard-fought 8-5 win at Wimborne.

Lewis Munster’s penalty put the home side 3-0 in front at the break.

But Martin Nutt’s unconverted try and a Rory Garrett penalty saw Quins earn victory.