CRAIG Burrows admits he is glad Grove do not have to go into the final weekend with the prospect of relegation hanging over them.

Brendon White scored a hat-trick of tries, including in the last play of the game, as the south Oxfordshire club earned a nail-biting 30-29 win over Reading on Saturday.

It means Grove are now an unassailable eight points clear of the South West 1 East relegation zone ahead of this weekend’s season finale at local rivals Oxford Harlequins.

Head coach Burrows said: “I knew it was going to be tight, but I did not think it would be that tight.

“We’re just glad we’re safe.”

Centre White played his last game at Cane Lane before returning to New Zealand after two seasons with the club.

Burrows said: “He wanted to be sent off with a bang at his last home game and he certainly did that.”