Chinnor 2nd manager Walter McGuicken has hit out at the Oxfordshire Cup's eligibility rules ahead of Sunday's semi-final at Witney (2.30pm).

McGuicken has been left frustrated that he cannot field backs Jaike Carter and John Pritchard (pictured), plus flanker Ed Rixon, who have been key second team players since the autumn.

But the cup rules mean prop Tom Whelan can play despite him starting the last three first team matches.

McGuicken said: "Jaike, John and Ed have played for us since November, but they started one game in the first team in the last five because of injuries so they can't feature for us on Sunday.

"It's very annoying as they are genuine second team players. We phoned the Oxfordshire RFU and they said there could be no exceptions.

"We could've done with the full team for Chinnor's benefit as the firsts have not been doing very well in National 3."

Cup rules state Chinnor 2nd can only select "those who have made not more than three starts for their first XV".

Or if they have made three or more first team starts earlier in the season, their last five full 15-a-side matches must have been for the seconds.

Oxfordshire RFU competitions chair Doug Bosley said: "It's the way we have always done it, and it was the same when Henley had their second team in the cup.

"We can't just change the rules. It wouldn't be fair on Witney."

Chinnor 2nd have had some fine results this year, notably last week's 24-17 victory over Ealing 2nd, so Witney, who have selected an unchanged pack, will have to be on their guard.

Witney will hope the eight who battled so well to defeat Chipping Norton in the league will be strong enough against experienced opponents.

In the backs, Gareth Campbell returns at scrum half and James Lamb continues his comeback from injury with a place on the bench.

Holders Oxford Harlequins host Grove in Sunday's other semi-final with the kick-off brought forward to 1pm, so players and supporters can watch England versus France afterwards.

Quins hope skipper Owen Gustafson will be back in time after watching his brother play in Italy for Wales Under 20s.

Lock Charlie Mason and front rower Tim Phillips step up to the squad.

Gosford All Blacks host Bicester in the Oxon Shield semi-finals tomorrow after the original fixture was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Judging by the state of the Stratfield Brake surface last week, Gosford will do well to avoid it being called off for waterlogging this time.

Bicester will be without Chris Giles (holiday), with former Garforth prop forward Simon Dowling likely to replace him in the squad.

Jacob Lowde and Dave Brogan (work commitments) miss out.

Chinnor hope to recall centre Darren Oxley and prop Joe Winpenny for tomorrow's National 3 South trip to Bridgwater & Albion.

Oxley has been out with a thigh strain, while Winpenny missed their game at Old Patesians due to work commitments.

This will be the first time the two sides have met this season after the original clash in December when Chinnor's coach was caught in traffic on the motorway.

OXFORD University duo John Chance and Doug Abbott have been named in an unchanged England Students side to take on France at Iffley Road tonight (7).

Chinnor (v Bridgwater & Albion, away): from Whelan, Conlon, Immelman, Winpenny, Iosefo, Burrows, Hutchings (capt), De Bruin, Benson, Jackman, Rixon, Duder, Williams, Oxley, Orchard, Carter, Pyers, B Hewitt, Brown, Wiseman.

Chinnor 2nd (v Witney, away): White, G Hackshaw, P Seymour, Russell, Garrad, Westerman, Burns, Stock, Cawston, Whelan, Fenwick, Millburn, Taylor, B Hackshaw, Scott-Priestley. Reps: Weeks Pearson, Winchester, Naylor, Devine, Arthur.

Witney (v Chinnor 2nd, home): Wheater, L Collins, H Lamb, C Strutt, Rollinson, Smith, G Campbell, Dore, Merriman, B Williams, J Hicks (capt), Fowler, Worrall, Muller, Collis. Reps: Gosling, Chatterton, C Campbell, Monks, J Lamb.

Oxford Harlequins (v Grove, home, meet 11.30am): from Chadbone, Needham, Delange, Phillips, Chapman, Mason, Eckert, Halsall, Payne, Soper, A Cope, Gustafson (capt), Lynchsmith, Wilson, A Henley, Ashton, Noyce, Davis, Recchia, Tanner.

Gosford All Blacks (v Bicester, home): Holburn, Clutton, B Hughes, Glithero, Joines, Sheppard, T Sutton, Jones, Weir, Donnelly, Rhymes, Stepney, D Hughes, Griffin (capt), Benito. Reps from: S Briggs, Pearson, Major, van der Hoek, Grant, Williams.

Bicester (v Gosford All Blacks, away): from Shaw, Davies, Evans, Wright, Malins, Nigtingale, D Spencer, Thurlow, Risbridger, R Kenny, Edgar, Rollason, A Spencer, Lewis, Ward, N Kenny, Howe, Walsh, Dowling, Clyde-Smith, Smith.

Oxford Harlequins 3rd (v Wallingford 2nd, away, meet Marston Ferry Road, 12.45pm).

Oxford Harlequins 4th (v Reading Abbey 4th, away, meet Marston Ferry Road, 12.45pm).