A HALF-time lead slipped away from Oxford Harlequins as they were beaten 35-19 at home to Old Patesians.

The defeat against their fellow strugglers leaves Quins in trouble towards the bottom of the National 3 South West table.

A good first-half display was undone by defensive lapses at crucial times in the second period which cost them dear.

Old Patesians, who arrived at the ground in seven taxis after their coach broke down, opened the scoring with a try from James Strickland, although the hosts soon hit back with a Will Sharratt penalty.

  • Latest Sport news

Jack Harrod’s try and Lee Hathaway’s conversion put the visitors 12-3 ahead, but the remainer of the half belonged to Quins.

Ed Yeats went on a speedy run to score a great individual try, before further penalties from Sharratt and Kristian Borthwick put the hosts 14-12 ahead at half-time.

Hathaway’s penalty edged Old Patesians ahead, before poor Quins defending saw their rivals score two soft tries inside a minute, Josh Stevens and James Aherne going over.

Hathaway converted both and then added a penalty to make it 32-14.

Quins tried to stage a recovery, with Henry Yeikune driving over for his first try.

But Hathway added a further penalty to compound Quins’ misery.