Grove captain Ben Nicholl suffered a broken leg as they lost 22-19 at home to Oxford Brookes University in their Oxfordshire Cup quarter-final.

The hosts led 19-5 after half an hour, but passed up and missed several kicks.

Brookes opened the scoring with a second-minute try from wing Mike Doherty.

Grove hit back with wing Harry Carr running in a try from his own half, fly half Dave Maryon converting for 7-5.

A move involving hooker Dave Needham and prop Steve Dixey set up a try for the latter.

Grove created try No 3 for wing Guy Nicholl, Maryon converting for 19-5.

Brookes fly half Rory Davies slotted a penalty, but his side were reduced to 14 men when their loose-head prop was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.

Guy Nicholl was yellow-carded for a similar offence after the break and Brookes reduced the arrears with a try from Tim Pierce, converted by Davies.

Ben Nicholl’s broken leg came after he and fellow back-row forward Matt Young had shone.

More penalty chances went begging before Brookes sealed it late on as Doherty won a race to touch down and Davies converted.

Henley Hawks powered into the semi-finals with a 36-0 victory at Alchester, who were making their Oxfordshire Cup debut.

Fielding a second team, Henley proved too strong for their battling opponents and took the lead with a try from centre George Whittle on ten minutes – after prop Sam Beckett’s punt gave them field position.

Hawks quickly added to this as Dave Knight came off his wing and cut inside to touch down, with fly half Robbie Dudding converting.

Alchester responded with a ten-minute spell of possession, but with the half-time approaching, Henley centre Simon Perry won a race to the line for their third try.

Wing Tom Wallace sprinted in for try No 4, full back Jack Adamson notched on his full debut, while veteran prop Rowan Fuller’s 50-metre supporting run was rewarded with the final score, Dudding converting two.

Chinnor received a walkover from Wallingford in the other tie.