There were plenty of plus points for Oxfordshire Under 20 as they went down to a narrow 14-12 friendly defeat against a powerful Surrey at Cobham.

The game was part of Oxon's preparation for the Tetley's National Under 20 Championship, which begins with a game against the RAF at Gosford All Blacks on February 17.

It was a splendid performance by Oxfordshire against last year's national champions, and bodes well for the Championship.

Despite the damp and windy conditions, both teams opted for running rugby.

Oxfordshire's first score was a well-worked try by left wing Leon Westerman after a good threequarter move.

Jamie Lakin's conversion attempt from the touchline unluckily bounced back off the post.

Towards the end of the match, sustained pressure by Oxfordshire's able pack led to quick re-cycling of the ball, and Tom Kelley broke through the centre to score under the posts, giving Lakin an easy conversion.

Surrey scored two good tries - the second in the dying minutes - and as both were converted, they just managed to snatch a very narrow win.

Oxon squad: J Lakin (Chipping Norton), P Jeffery (Wallingford), L Westerman (Chinnor), M Goode (Banbury/Northampton), P Flemming (Banbury), T Kelley (Cardiff), B Rollison (Witney), N Walker (Oxford Harlequins), H Pooler (Oxford Harlequins), M Dodwell (Oxford Harlequins/Bath Univ), D Burns (Wallingford), J Smith (Oxford Harlequins), M Shepley (Banbury), B Hackshaw (Chinnor), J Winpenny (Chinnor), R Dore (Witney), M Hutchings (Banbury), H Plaisted (Oxford Harlequins), G Robertson (Wallingford), J Wilcox-Jones (Bath), T Windsor-Lewis (Chipping Norton), T Johnson (Oxford Brookes), C Robertson (Wallingford), S Bannister (Banbury).