Oxford Harlequins will have some sympathy with England umpiring difficulties in Sri Lanka, after being denied an obvious try in their Southern Counties North 19-7 defeat against leaders Windsor at Horspath Road on Saturday, writes Michael Knox.

Unlucky to be trailing 12-7 midway through the second half, Quins appeared to have levelled the scores when centre Dave Boreham touched down Henry Pooler's grubber kick to the corner.

But, to the astonishment of both sets of players and supporters, Southend referee Fraser Donaldson awarded a scrum five to Windsor.

The official later confirmed that he had been unsighted but then why did he give the put-in to the defending side?

Quins, who had dominated much of the first hour, understandably wilted after that and conceded another try to give Windsor victory by a flattering margin.

Wearing a new strip, Quins gave their opponents a torrid time in the set scrums and showed some inventive play in the backs.

They took the lead after 18 minutes when hooker Simon Chadbone, supporting a sniping break by scrum half Anthony Cope, powered his way over from close range.

Gareth D Jones added the conversion but missed a subsequent penalty attempt, which led to Quins choosing to run further penalty chances in the first half.

They looked like taking the lead into the break, but just before half-time, Windsor, skippered by former Banbury player Paul Britton, scored against the run of play through flanker James Fearnley. Rob McKinley converted in front of the posts to level the scores.

After pressing early in the second half, Quins were victims of another sucker punch, when Windsor lock Simon May broke through some weak tackling to score from 40 yards.

After their disallowed try and with increasing problems at the line-out, Quins never looked like coming back.

Their fate was sealed five minutes from time when Gareth D Jones had a clearance from behind his own try line charged down. Boreham failed to gather the loose ball and Fearnley fell on it for a try, which McKinley con- verted.

Oxford Harlequins: Arand, Pooler, Boreham, J Cope, Rudd, GD Jones, A Cope (A Tang 65), Molyneux, Simon Chadbone, Donnelly (Houston 75), Todd, Price (capt), A Jones (Newman 73), James, Nye (Newman 65-73).

Referee: F Donaldson (Eastern Counties)