Oxford Harlequins 36, Witney 13

Oxford Harlequins showed their class as they retained the Oxfordshire Cup at an unseasonally chilly Iffley Road.

A hat-trick of tries from centre and man-of-the-match Andy Henley helped Quins towards an emphatic scoreline that did not do justice to Witney's efforts.

For much of the match this was a tight encounter and spectators wondered if the contest might yield an upset.

But once Henley crossed for his second try after 63 minutes, there was only going to be one winner.

Quins have now won three out of the last four finals, while Witney had to be content with a second successive runners-up spot.

If it was the Henley-inspired back line that made the difference, Quins' forwards, among whom locks Dave Payne and James Eckert stood out, came into their own after the break.

Both sides thought they had scored before Quins' scrum half Anthony Cope broke the deadlock on 23 minutes.

Witney winger Louie Collins looked to have touched down No 8 Owen Fowler's grubber kick in the fifth minute, but touch judge Nick Jones overruled and a 22 drop-out was given.

Likewise Quins' full back Pete Davis was called back for a forward pass after his skipper Owen Gustafson had sniped to within feet of the line.

Cope's try came while Witney's Ben Rollinson was in the sin bin following a high tackle on Beau Wilson.

Witney's defence had no answer to the scrum half's sharp break and he was able to twist over the line.

Flanker Will Worrall was an increasingly influential figure for Witney and it was he who finished off an excellent catch and drive score on 32 minutes.

Davis and his opposite number Henry Lamb traded penalties, but Quins went into the break ahead after Henley finished a fantastic sweeping move involving almost all his teammates. Davis converted.

Witney had the ideal start to the second period when Henry Lamb powered up the left wing and off-loaded for the supporting Rollinson to score.

Quins were still struggling to counter the effective Witney pack and a wayward attempted drop goal from Davis was all they could muster.

That was until Henley sprinted through a gap in midfield and finished in style.

Davis's conversion made it 22-13 and as Witney tired, Quins cut loose.

Try No 4 came from winger Chris Ashton after 74 minutes as he was expertly driven over and Davis converted from wide on the right.

Quins continued to make all the running and were twice denied scoring chances by forward passes.

But there was no stopping Henley when he latched on to fellow centre Wilson's pass in injury time and Davis's conversion completed the scoring.

Oxford Harlequins: Davis, Ashton, A Henley, Wilson, Lynchsmith (Recchia 75), Gustafson (capt), A Cope, Chadbone (Chapman 63), Needham, DeLange (Graham 74), Payne, Eckert, Vinter (Mason 75), Young, Halsall (Dixon 48).

Witney: H Lamb, Collins, C Strutt (Murray 75), J Lamb, Rollinson (Monks 80), Smith, G Campbell, Dore (Brocklebank 63), Merriman, B Williams, Chatterton (Richens 73), J Hicks (capt), Worrall, Muller (C Campbell 66), Fowler.

Man-of-the-match: A Henley.