Former Chinnor fly half James Cathcart was the scourge of Oxford Harlequins again as they lost 14-13 at Reading in South West 1.

Cathcart's three penalties proved just enough in a tight game where Quins recovered from 11-0 down.

The visitors could have snatched victory had they not spurned penalty chances in the closing minutes.

Cathcart kicked Reading into a 6-0 lead with two penalties after five and 12 minutes.

Excellent Quins defence kept them at bay until the 25th minute when flanker Chris Pople burst through to score a try.

Quins' full back Pete Davis's penalty made it 11-3 at the break.

In the second half, bullocking runs by prop Simon Chadbone and lock James Eckert started to find cracks in the home defence.

On 48 minutes, scrum half Antony Cope and fly half Owen Gustafson combined to send left wing Duncan Lynchsmith on a touch line run for an excellent try.

Davis's touchline conversion hit a post, but three minutes later he sliced through for a try to give Quins a deserved lead.

Gustafson's varied tactics almost brought several scores, but last ditch Reading defence and forward passes denied them.

In the 71st minute Cathcart kicked a penalty against the run of play, which proved the final score.