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Oxfordshire U20’s opened up their 2012 RFU National U20 Championship South West A Group challenge with a fine, 20-7, win away to Buckinghamshire at Aylesbury RFC last Sunday (Feb 19).

A try in either half had them 15-0 to the good after 50 minutes and, while the home side hit back and were pressing hard for a second score, Oxfordshire added insult to injury with a last-minute breakaway try from deep inside their own half.

“It was a decent enough win but scrappy as it was our first run-out,” commented Oxfordshire’s coach Martin Moran. “There was two aspects of our game that I was really pleased with and that was, one, our defence was very sound, and two, the work rate all around the park.

“Bucks pushed us very hard but, I think, we defended well and competed at the breakdown well and, I also think, that we got more width on our game.”

Oxfordshire centre David Massey opened the scoring with a 15th minute touchdown, well converted by fly half Will Millett who’s penalty, 10 minutes later, had his side leading 10-0 at the break.

A captain’s try from hooker Ted Soppet, touching down off a rolling maul, extended the visitors lead to 15-0 on 50 minutes, but, as the home side rang the changes, particularly in the front-row, they managed to dominate their visitors for the final 20 minutes.

And, it led to their only try of the match scored by fly half Jake Buckland who converted his own score.

Unfortunately, as Bucks pressed even harder, Oxfordshire wing Harry Carr intercepted a Bucks pass deep in his own half and sprinted all the way to the home line for the final score

“Our line-out didn't function in the first half and it meant we kept loosing field position which was frustrating,” commented disappointed Bucks manager Chris Smith. “They got two yellow cards which reflected the amount Oxon put in to slowing the ball down which was frustrating as it disrupted our game plan.

“Having said that we did not capitalise on our one man advantage.”

Buckinghamshire now face Berkshire this Sunday (Feb. 26) again at Aylesbury RFC while Oxfordshire will be in action the following Sunday (Mar. 4) away to Dorset & Wilts at North Dorset RFC.

Buckinghamshire: Will Garrett (Bletchley); Toly Sark-Geissler (High Wycombe), Gavin Whitehead (Milton Keynes), Ryan Crane (Bletchley – c), Damilola Harris (Buckingham University); Jake Buckland (Chinnor), Toby Parkes (Marlow); Michael Goldsworthy (Bedford Blues), Nick Brown (Bedford Blues), Tom Mason (Buckingham); Ollie Cato (Amersham & Chiltern), Aidan Thomas (Drifters); Toby Baker (Buckingham), Dan Wood (Amersham & Chiltern), Tom Grant (Bletchley). Reps – Harrison O’Brien (Amersham & Chiltern), Chris Liddington (Aylesbury), Lewis Jones (Drifters), Jim Barker (Buckingham), Will Parkin (Olney), Tom Cormie (Westminster University), Scott Aspinall (Milton Keynes).

Oxfordshire: Michael Johnson (Henley); Sam Wareham (Oxford University), David Massey (Reading Abbey), Johnny Tevita (Oxford), Harry Carr (Grove); Will Millett (Chinnor), Max Mitcham (Chinnor); Nathan Humphreys (Chinnor), Ted Soppet (Morley), Sam Steventon (Oxford); Lewis Arnold (Oxford), Richard Russell (Oxford University); Jack Horwood (Henley), Samir Kharbouch (Henley), Ramen Farahani (Oxford). Reps – Adam Neal (Oxford), Laurie Gibson (Henley), Thom Morton (Witney), Will Watts (Gosford All Blacks), Dave Aslett (Bicester), Elliott Quelch (Henley).

South West A Group National U20 fixtures:-

Jan. 29 – Dorset & Wilts 12 Buckinghamshire 15 – Chippenham RFC

Feb. 19 – Berkshire 36 v Dorset & Wilts 25 – Reading RFC

Feb. 19 – Buckinghamshire 7 v Oxfordshire 20 – Aylesbury RFC

Feb. 26 – Buckinghamshire v Berkshire – Aylesbury RFC

Mar. 4 – Dorset & Wilts v Oxfordshire – North Dorset RFC

Mar. 11 - Feb. 5 – Oxfordshire v Berkshire – Henley RFC