BANBURY were unable to build on a positive start in losing 36-28 to Grove at Bodicote Park.

The hosts, who lost props Manu Paniagua and Ian Isham to injury in the second half, led 14-3 early on in the South West 1 East clash.

Chris Phillips and Carl Daniels crossed either side of a Sam Vaughan penalty for Grove, with both tries converted by Ed Phillips.

Steve Dixey dotted down for the visitors, with Vaughan converting, before Ed Phillips’s penalty nudged Banbury further ahead.

But Grove led 22-17 at the break, thanks to tries from Dave Wells and Josh Tyler. Vaughan converting the latter.

Scrum half Joe Chilvers was next to go over for the visitors, with Vaughan making it 29-17.

Two Ed Phillips penalties kept the home side in touch, but Connor Hull’s try, converted by Vaughan, stretched the lead to 36-23.

The visitors had Phil Durant sin-binned late on and Banbury full back Max Titchener’s unconverted try was too late to salvage anything at the death.