OXFORDSHIRE found another gear as they destroyed Berkshire 50-19 in their final County Championship Plate Pool 3 clash at Tadley.

Having scored six tries against Hampshire and seven against Dorset & Wilts, they put eight past Berks to set up a semi-final with East Midlands at Bedford Athletic on Saturday.

The outstanding individuals were Chinnor No 8 Raakai Maxwell and Oxford Harlequins centre Andy Henley, with the former just shading my man-of-the-match award.

But this was a great team performance against a decent side, who were made to look very ordinary at times.

Oxon carved out some real gems among their tries and young debutants Greg King and Ben Hewitt suggested the county's future looks rosy.

Berkshire had to win this game to reach the semis after losing to Hampshire the previous week, but things looked very bleak for them inside eight minutes.

First, Oxon scrum half Anthony Cope made a trademark break from a lineout on the Berks 22 to create a try for fly half James Cathcart after four minutes.

Cathcart slotted the conversion and had a hand in try No 2 as Chinnor flyer Jamie Hiscock crossed in the right corner after Henley kept the ball alive.

Berks took ten minutes to get any sort of platform in the Oxon half, but although under pressure territorially, their defence was sound.

Full back Spike Chandler looked by far Berks' most dangerous runner and kept the defence on their toes.

Henley and centre partner Alex Wallace continued to threaten and the Quins man gave Oxon more breathing space after 38 minutes.

Wallace, Cathcart and winger Andy Noyce combined well, but it still took a strong finish.

Cathcart converted from wide and slotted a far easier kick just after the break when Henley scampered round and under the posts.

To their credit, Berks hit back immediately with a try from Henley No 8 Matt Holland, which fly half Craig Raymond converted.

Any chance of a comeback was snuffed out on 55 minutes, however, as Hiscock stepped inside from his wing to notch his fourth score in two Oxon starts.

Cathcart's conversion was his last meaningful action of another impressive game before giving way to Hewitt.

Oxon made it 38-7 on 61 minutes when Wallace dived over on the left wing after Henley's sharp pass.

Maxwell made almost as many breaks as crunching tackles during a fine afternoon and he finally escaped the Berkshire defence to run in try No 7 from half-way.

Hewitt added the extras and showed off his skills after Raymond replied with a deserved try and conversion on 72 minutes.

From well inside his own 22, Hewitt stepped past two tackles and broke upfield to kick-start a move that ended with fellow replacement Paddy Soper scoring in the corner.

Berks wrapped up the scoring with a well-taken try from Andy Amor, another replacement, but Oxon will take some stopping in this competition.