Chipping Norton have failed in their bid to have this Sunday's David Charles Oxfordshire Cup quarter-final tie at Littlemore switched to a later date.

Chippy put in this request because four of their players have been picked in Oxfordshire's squad for their opening match in the Under 20 County Championship to be played on the same day.

"We feel we're being unfairly penalised for having good youngsters," complained Chippy's club captain Stan King.

Chippy are putting county before club by allowing Adam Smith, twins Martin and Barry Nutt plus Jamie Lakin to play for Oxon Under 20s against RAF Under 20s at RAF Halton.

"We were led to believe that clubs providing three or more players for county sides could postpone Oxon Cup ties," said King.

However, competition organiser Colin Baldwin said there was nothing in the rules to that effect. He added that the date could be changed if both teams agreed.

However, two approaches to Littlemore have fallen on stony ground.

Last week, I highlighted the problem over the kick-off time of this Sunday's Henley v Chinnor tie at Dry Leas.

Henley wanted to bring it forward two hours, so that it wouldn't conflict with the club's National League Division 1 game against Moseley, which is being played on the same day.

Chinnor's continued refusal to change, because some players might not get back after staying overnight in Cardiff, means that the cup tie will be played on one of Henley's secondary pitches, starting at 2.30pm.

The other two ties Witney v Oxford Harlequins and Banbury v Henley Wanderers have caused no such headaches.

For the record, the teams I expect to reach the last four are Chipping Norton, Chinnor, Witney and Banbury.

*Harwell have conceded their David Charles Oxfordshire Plate first round tie to Bicester.

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