Witney 8, Oxford Harlequins 17

WIitney emerged with great credit from a battling display, but it was Oxford Harlequins who reached the Oxfordshire Cup semi-finals.

It was never going to be a classic, flowing match on a mudbath at Hailey Road, especially as both sides had played the day before, yet it had its moments.

Quins made just two changes to the starting XV that hammered Barnstaple, with Joey Todd replacing the injured Jeff Stewart at fly half. and flanker Matt Young coming in for Tim Knapp.

Witney, who gave a debut to lock Scott Mortimer, have been injury-hit of late and were well below full strength.

The hosts came out fired up and scored after three minutes, scrum half Gareth Campbell breaking and flanker Marc Copperwheat beating his man to finish.

Skipper James Lamb missed a tough conversion, and his side were not helped by the lack of a regular kicker.

Quins seemed unwilling to rein in their running game and repeatedly knocked on as moves broke down in all areas of the field.

The penalty count was high as referee Terry Malarky was quick to blow up, but frequent errors made it a stop-start game anyway.

Witney continued to shade the first quarter, but struggled to counter Quins’ driving maul when it got going.

The hosts were penalised for collapsing one on 25 minutes and Todd kicked the penalty.

A Todd knock-on gave Witney a great position on the edge of Quins’ 22 after 33 minutes.

They couldn’t capitalise, but Lamb’s penalty soon gave them a deserved lead.

Quins had something to cheer soon after the restart when lock Alan Purchase powered over from close range and Todd converted for 10-8.

This all stemmed from the impressive Andy Boyle’s line-out catch and another powerful maul.

Quins still didn’t have it their own way as wing James Monks and centre Will Bibby led Witney’s defensive effort.

The visitors went for a driving maul again on 55 minutes, but Witney did well to force it into touch.

Basic errors kept creeping in, with Quins wing Huw Jones spilling a simple pass from scrum half Alasdair Maspero as he tapped a penalty.

Quins brought on academy player Harry Burn at scrum half and then the otherwise quiet Martin Nutt won the game on 67 minutes.

Nutt had to go backwards to field a bouncing ball, but chipped over a flat-footed defence and won the race to touch the ball down, with Todd converting.

Campbell tried to play in Monks with a chip kick, but the ball was well cleared and that was it for the chances.

Witney: Thomas, Monks, Bibby, J Lamb (capt), Strutt, Dubost, G Campbell, Burke (Godfrey 68), Fuller, Richens (Calley 41), Mortimer, Hare, M Copperwheat, Worrall, Fowler.

Oxford Harlequins: Crapper, Jones, Nutt, Tuatara, Andre (Noyce 55), Todd, Maspero (Burn 66), Chadbone (capt), Clark, Barlow (Eckert 50), Purchase (Smart 72), Boyle, Young (Knapp 50), Newman, Welburn.

Referee: T Mallarky (Oxfordshire).

Man-of-the-match: Boyle.