Oxford Harlequins 21, Bridgwater & Albion 17
TWO tries from debutant full back Paddy Smith helped Oxford Harlequins to edge out National 3 South West’s basement boys.
It was far from a convincing display, but Quins did just enough to earn a second victory of the season and climb out of the relegation zone.
Smith’s pace and timing proved decisive as did skipper Jamie Cope’s reliable work around the park, but there were too many errors for this to be much of a spectacle.
Quins fly half Alex Stevenson began by finding a superb touch down field and after three minutes kicked a tricky penalty from out wide.
Although they fared worse on the penalty count, Quins were definitely on top and went further ahead on 18 minutes.
Australian Smith took a quick penalty, linked with scrum half Graham Sage, and finished well on the right.
When wing Harry Burn broke a tackle to run in a try from his own half on 22 minutes, it looked as if the hosts might really cut loose.
However, Bridgwater, who have suffered major injury problems, showed great tenacity to battle back and competed well at the breakdown.
The visitors’ opening try had more than a bit of luck about it as when Burn tried to catch a high ball, it rebounded off his chest and into the path of openside Nick Spellisi.
He still had work to do, but ran in well from halfway, with fly half Ashley Pipard converting.
Smith made a try-saving tackle to deny left wing Ash Oyekan just before half-time, while Pipard slotted a penalty soon after the interval.
Stevenson missed a simple kick, then landed a penalty from almost the same spot.
Quins’ scrum had the edge throughout, while they also stole plenty of Bridgwater line-outs.
The hosts moved 21-10 ahead when Stevenson and centre Martin Nutt combined to set up Smith’s second try on 63 minutes.
But Quins switched off from the restart and saw Bridgwater centre Rob Allen run through far too easily for a try, converted by Pippard.
That could have prompted a nervy final 15 minutes, but Bridgwater transgressed and knocked on too frequently to mount real, sustained pressure.
Quins managed to close out the game, but without ever looking in control.
Oxford Harlequins: Smith, Burn, Nutt, Jelly, Noyce, Stevenson, Sage (Cousins 64), Chadbone, Edney (Barlow 60), Hall, Boyle, Clayton, Forde, Sammutt (Powell 72), J Cope (capt).
Referee: S Walker (Dorset & Wilts).
Man-of-the-match: Cope.
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