Oxford Harlequins 14, Newton Abbot 22

A LATE comeback could not save Oxford Harlequins from losing their first National 3 South West match of 2012.

Quins looked out of it after deservedly falling 22-0 behind on 53 minutes, with the visitors scoring three tries.

However, they came close to at least a bonus point with flanker Sione Vaiomo’unga being adjudged held up near the end.

Newton Abbot gradually took control in the first half, with their scrum holding sway and Quins’ line-out mis-firing.

Fly half Steve Ward kicked Abbot ahead with a tenth-minute penalty after full back Josh Smith had pulled an earlier effort wide.

Quins showed the odd glimpse, with player-coach Tevita Vaikona carrying the ball well out of defence, but wing Harry Burn had to be alert to touch down for a 22 drop-out.

Burn and full back Huw Jones were beaten too easily for Abbot’s opening try, scored with aplomb by their jinking wing Matt Dayment.

Another lost line-out laid the platform for the visitors’ second try, which saw debutant centre Sam Jones catch the home defence flat-footed on 37 minutes, Ward converting.

Abbot threatened a third try before the break and Quins lock Will Clayton was yellow-carded as his side defended desperately. The visitors strangely ran the ball when a pushover try looked possible.

Quins had more territory at the beginning of the second half, but could control the ball for long enough and Jones twice wasted possession.

When Smith dummied his way through for Abbot’s third try and Ward converted, a big away win seemed on the cards.

But Quins dug in and used the ball well to send Burn scampering over from a tapped penalty. Fly half Joey Todd converted from out wide and Quins had hope.

Some decent pressure and passing ended with flanker Julian Watkins being stopped just short on 62 minutes.

But the ball was quickly recycled and Martin Nutt, who had moved from wing to centre, burrowed over for Todd to convert from the touchline.

Quins laid siege to Abbot’s 22 for most of the final ten minutes, with Vaiomo’unga taking the fight to the visitors almost single-handedly.

He was held up and replacement Ramen Farahani went close before losing the ball.

Abbot defended well and could have taken all five points in the final minute had Smith backed himself to go for the corner.

Oxford Harlequins: Jones, Burn, A Cope (Noyce 59), Vaikona, Nutt, Todd, Cosins, Steventon (Graham 74), Edney, Hall, Forde, Clayton, Watkins (Farahani 70), Vaiomo’unga, Sammut (capt).

Referee: E McWalter (Gloucester).

Quins man-of-the-match: Vaiomo’unga.