Oxfordshire 19, Berkshire 64

OXFORDSHIRE’S County Championship Shield campaign is effectively over after one match following this heavy Pool 3 defeat at Kingsey Road.

Their fate will be sealed if Berkshire beat Dorset & Wilts next Saturday, but even if the latter triumph, it will be almost impossible to overhaul their points difference in the final game.

Berkshire, who scored ten tries, were quite simply better in every facet of play, with their back three tearing Oxon apart at regular intervals.

The hosts simply could not handle their pace and precision, which hinted at some very thorough preparation.

Oxfordshire had a strong wind in their faces as they got under way, evidenced by fly half James Cathcart’s kick-off not going ten metres.

This was a day when pretty much everything Berkshire tried came off, and a slick move allowed wing Will Rasinbridge to enter the line at pace for the opening try on seven minutes, centre Ben Nowak converting.

Oxon debutant Harry Burn was one of their few players to impress and the 18-year-old wing showed a great swerve to finish on the right after 11 minutes.

At this stage, a rout seemed unlikely for either side, but Oxon were soon up against it.

Full back Alex Cannon ran in Berkshire’s second try after wing Chris Knight evaded some weak tackling and Rasinbridge bagged No 3 as his side’s pace proved all too much Nowak converted both of these, but was off target when lock Jack Williams stepped through with surprising ease to finish a move stemming from Oxon flanker Nick Harrison’s loose pass.

Trailing 26-5, Oxon needed to bolt the door fast, but could do little to stop No 8 Nico Maybury powering over from a tapped penalty, Nowak converting.

Oxon brought on Grove flanker Guy Nicholl for his debut, replacing his brother Ben, who started at blindside.

However, Berkshire led 40-5 at half-time after Rasinbridge completed his hat-trick with another rapier finish and Nowak converted.

When full back Mark Chase, another debutant, went over for Oxfordshire’s second try soon after the break, and Cathcart converted, you wondered if an unlikely comeback was on.

Oxon had the wind behind them now, but were still brittle in their tackling – a weakness Rasinbridge exploited to set up Cannon for his second try, Nowak converting.

The hosts lost a five-metre line-out after going for the corner.

Then, shortly after the hour mark, centre Nigel Gumbleton completed another precise handling move for try, converted by Nowak for 54-12.

Replacement scrum half Shaun Kitching raced away for try No 9 on 69 minutes and Knight sprinted in from his own half just before the final whistle.

In between, replacement wing Harry Carr produced a lively burst, and the supporting Chase fed No 8 Tom Mowbray to canter over for Cathcart to convert.

Carr’s debut was ended by a foot injury sustained in setting up the try, which was of little comfort to an Oxon side, who had been exposed badly.

Oxfordshire: Chase, Burn, Nutt (capt), Serrano (Hewitt 52), N Sevier (Carr 52-75), Cathcart, Hopwood (Burns 62), Winpenny, Cawston (Chadbone 33-49), Pickett (Eckert 42), Smith, Bellinger, B Nicholl (G Nicholl 33) Harrison (B Nicholl 75), Mowbray.

Referee: M Dickens (RFU).

Oxon man-of-the-match: Burn.