Oxford Harlequins 17, Grove 8

TWO late tries from flanker Jamie Cope enabled Oxford Harlequins to preserve their 100 per cent record at the top of Southern Counties North - but only after being taken to the limit by Grove at Horspath Road on Saturday.

Indeed, with ten minutes left, the young Grove side, who were also unbeaten prior to this contest, actually led 8-3 before Quins' greater experience and fitness told.

This was the first time that either of these teams had been tested this season, and the result was a fiercely contested first half with both sets of backs being contained by well-organised defences.

If anything, Grove, with Mike Turner and Ben Nicholl providing useful line-out ball, had the edge, as fly half Ben Dean and centre Ali James made some neat half-breaks.

However, it was Quins who led 3-0 at the break when fly half Chris Penney landed a penalty with the last kick of the half.

Grove full back Nick Sevier made amends for a bad previous miss, by kicking an equalising penalty early in the second half.

But the game only started to open up when both Nicholl and Quins lock Rob Dow were sin-binned for illegal use of the boot.

Grove went ahead in the 55th minute with a hotly-disputed try. Left wing Gareth Hudson gathered his own neat grubber kick, but appeared to lose the ball as he crossed over the line.

However, referee Tony Gardiner awarded a try, and Grove had victory in their sights.

Quins' strong pack responded by gaining some momentum and Grove were pinned in their own 22.

Instead of kicking to clear their lines, the visitors tried to run the ball out of defence with little success.

Eventually the pressure told, and continuous recycling and some slick passing by full back Henry Pooler and centre Dan Urriza-Rodriguez put Jamie Cope in for a try that Penney converted.

Quins were in charge now and they sealed the result with a second try.

Grove were under pressure at a scrum on their own line and a wayward pass by No 8 Steve Broadley was pounced on by Cope for his second try. Penney again converted.

Although this was a crucial result in the promotion stakes, Quins know that Grove are likely to keep snapping at their heels in what could become a two-horse race.

**Oxford Harlequins: Pooler, Steve Chadbone (GE Jones HT), Urriza-Rodriguez, Swadling, Dobson, Penney, A Cope, DeLange, Lawfull (Simon Chadbone HT), Silversides (Lawfull 80), Dow, Price, Crompton (A Jones 64), J Cope, Nye.

Grove: Sevier, Coad, Wood, James, Hudson, Dean, Hammett, Eckert, Barber, Wood, Maryon, Turner, Broadley, Nicholl, Hall (Young 3).

Referee: T Gardiner (Leics).