CHINNOR Falcons reached the final of the Oxfordshire Cup for the first time since 2013 as they fended off a spirited Oxford Harlequins at Kingsey Road.
Tries from Max Graham (2), Ricky Cano, Callum Newton, Ryan Collins and George Grose earned the seven-time winners a 38-18 victory on a mild evening in Thame.
Falcons - Chinnor's second team - will face the winners of tonight’s second semi-final between holders Banbury and Bicester at Iffley Road on April 18.
It was no more than they deserved, but Quins, whose starting line-up contained at least five second XV players due to unavailability and injury, put up a fight and were within ten points with just under 20 minutes to go.
Falcons named two first-team players in fly-half Caolan Ryan, who has missed the majority of the National League 1 season with a knee injury, and loosehead prop Cano in their squad.
They dominated the early proceedings, pinning their visitors back, but only broke through once winger Guy Fairburn had been sin-binned.
They used the extra man to their advantage as Graham and Cano crossed, Ryan converting, to open up a 14-0 lead after 19 minutes.
Quins responded well, cutting the deficit to eight points thanks to two Toni Turetta penalties.
But Chinnor’s strong-running backs were continuing to cause their visitors problems and they went on to add to their try count before half-time.
Centre Grose and winger Evan Davies were dangerous throughout, but it was tighthead prop Newton who showed a fine turn of pace to touch down, before Graham crossed again, Ryan adding the extras, to make it 28-6.
Quins dug deep and scored their first try of the game before the half-time whistle, centre Ollie Kynge racing over for an unconverted score.
The visitors piled on the pressure after the break, while Graham and No 8 Sam Jones were sin-binned for Chinnor.
Quins got the reward their endeavour deserved when second-row Freddie Myatt darted over, Turetta converting, to make it 28-18.
But just when they thought they had worked their way back into the tie, a lapse in concentration allowed winger Collins to go over.
Quins refused to give in, but Falcons defended resolutely to keep them at bay.
And their defensive effort was rewarded with a sixth try when Grose went over on 74 minutes to complete the scoring.
Chinnor Falcons: McMinn, R Collins, Aslett, Grose, Davies, Ryan, Graham, Cano, White, Newton, Lavin, Millburn, Hope, Norman, Jones. Reps: Franklin, Ludgate, Abbots, D Collins, Hackshaw.
Oxford Harlequins: Henderson, Fairburn, Crowe, Kynge, Turetta, Moore, O'Brien, Gifford, Ralton, De Lange, Myatt, Purchase, MacDonald, Taylor, White. Reps: Braybrook, Gill, Jones, Bertier, Rahimi.
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