Oxfordshire 19, Sussex 8

THESE are heady times for Oxfordshire rugby! After years of struggling to win even a game, they suddenly find themselves in the quarter-finals of the Tetley's Bitter Championship with a genuine prospect of reach the final itself.

Saturday's routine win against Sussex at Banbury confirmed their position at the top of South Pool 2, and they now face an epic contest against champions Cornwall at Redruth this Saturday for a place in the last four.

Facing the men from the Duchy in front of 7,000 fanatical supporters may seem a daunting prospect, but there is a genuine belief in the Oxfordshire camp that they can do it.

However, they will have to perform much better and finish more clinically than they did against a pedestrian Sussex side.

As Henley, on whom the county's current success is so dependant, were involved in a league match with Rotherham, Oxon were about seven players short and lacked a cutting edge.

They could afford to lose by 50 points and still go through, but, as coach Jim McKay wanted, they went all out for victory.

Oxon took the lead in the 15th minute when winger Dave Knight darted over in the right corner, following quick ruck ball.

Sussex immediately replied with a try by their own right winger Guy Young to level the scores.

Oxon lost Banbury No 8 Rob Cockerton with a dislocated shoulder, but this only brought on Henley's Dean Holder, who had a storming game behind a set scrum that was beginning to creak.

While Holder was the outstanding forward, Danny Batty was the best back, scoring Oxon's second try with a searing 40-metre break. Tony Hurst's conversion made it 12-5 at half-time.

Justin Looney's penalty reduced the arrears for Sussex, early in a second half riddled with errors as the intense heat took its toll.

With replacement Simon Matthews shoring up their front row, Oxon finally sealed the victory in the 67th minute with a smart try. From Hurst's tap penalty on halfway, Matt Harding drove upfield, before Batty put fly half Ben Tubb over under the posts. As Hurst had already missed two kicks from right in front, it was Tubb who added the conversion.

With Henley's star players available again next week, as many as eight of the side that beat Sussex could find themselves on the sidelines. But with a Twickenham final on the horizon, Oxon know this is no time for sentiment.

Oxfordshire (Henley unless stated): A Noyce, D Knight, S Adlen (Banbury), D Batty, L Smye, B Tubb, A Hurst (Banbury), G Walker, D Cassidy (capt), A Hopcroft (Chinnor), S Chatterton (Banbury), M Turner, M Harding, S Powers, R Cockerton (Banbury). Reps: D Holder for Cockerton 20, S Matthews (Chinnor) for Walker 50, A Tapper (Bedford Ath) for Adlen 51, S Fleming for Turner 63, G Hunt (Reading) for Noyce 63, L Perkins (Banbury) for Hopcroft 73, S Cassidy (Bicester) for Batty 80.

OXON supporters wishing to travel to Cornwall by coach on Saturday are asked to contact Vince Murphy on 01608 642908. South Pool 2 final table

P W D L F A PtsKOxon 3 3 0 0 148 20 6KKent 3 2 0 1 73 105 4KSussex 3 1 0 2 53 62 2KDorset & W 3 0 0 3 24 111 0