OXFORDSHIRE manager Nick Cole praised their Town and Gown blend ahead of Sunday’s National Under 20 Championship clash away to Dorset & Wilts.

Having won their opening South Region A match against Bucks, Oxon know victory at North Dorset RFC will see them well-placed to reach the knock-out phase.

Cole said a key to their success has been the integration of Oxford University students and local club players.

“We’re pleased with the squad overall and particularly the way in which the university lads have gelled with the county clubs players,” said Cole.

“It should, over the next few seasons, enable us to get through to the later stages of the competition.”

Oxfordshire’s squad inc-ludes Chinnor pair Max Mitcham and Nathan Humphries plus Oxford Harlequins sextet Johnny Tevita, Sam Steventon, Lewis Arnold, Ramen Farahani, Adam Neal and Connor McCaffery.

Cole added: “Were looking forward to continuing our winning run, but we are a very wary that they will want to end their campaign with a win.”

Oxfordshire: from Johnson (Henley), Wareham (Oxford University), Massey (Reading Abbey), Tevita (Oxford Harlequins), Carr (Grove), Lubbock (Henley), Mitcham (Chinnor), Humphries (Chinnor), Soppet (Morley), Steventon (Oxford Harlequins), Arnold (Oxford Harlequins), Horwood (Bicester), Kharbouch (Henley), Farahani (Oxford Harlequins), Neal (Oxford Harlequins), Berry (UWIC), McCaffery (Oxford Harlequins), Murton (Witney), Watts (Gosford All Blacks), Aslett (Bicester), Richardson (Oxford University), File (Witney).