National 3 South West

OXFORD Harlequins ended any lingering relgation worries with a battling 16-11 victory at Barnstaple.

Quins had lost their previous five league games, but showed flair and strong defence to end that run.

Barnstaple opened the scoring with a penalty from centre Joshua Squire in the second minute.

In the 15th minute, Quins suffered a blow when flanker Tim Knapp went off with a knee injury to be replaced by James Clark.

Quins fly half Joey Todd hit a post with a drop-goal attempt before Squire’s second penalty made it 6-0 on the half-hour.

A minute later, Quins’ No 8 Jason Welburn created the opening for centre Ryan Newman to dive over.

Todd slotted a 45-metre penalty and a drop goal to make it 11-6 at the break.

Visiting lock Luke Brown was yellow-carded on 47 minutes.

Quins frequently went close, but Barnstaple levelled when Jack Flanagan was driven over on 70 minutes.

A minute later, Quins wing Harry Burn pounced on a defensive fumble to win the game with a fine jinking finish.

James Cathcart landed eight out of eight kicks as Chinnor beat Exmouth 52-5 to earn their first league victory over the Devon side.

An injury to Ricky Hopwood in the warm-up meant Chinnor only had two replacements.

Chinnor wing Richard Williams sidestepped over for the opeing try in the first minute, Cathcart kicking the first of seven conversions.

Flanker Ed Vickers barged through on 24 minutes and No 8 Tom Mowbray bagged the first of a try double after Cathcart slotted a long-range penalty.

Centre Matt Goode ran in try No 4 on 42 minutes, with full back Mark Chase touching down soon afterwards.

Mowbary and Goode completed braces with tries six and seven.

Injuries and hooker Alan Cawston’s first yellow card in 13 years meant Chinnor went down to 13 men and Exmouth bagged a consolation try through Jack Westlake.