Oxfordshire's hopes of having a good run in the Tetley's Bitter Under 20 Championship were dashed when they lost 18-0 to a strong Bucks side at Gosford All Blacks' Stratfield Brake ground on Sunday.

The home county's line-up was disrupted by a spate of injuries affecting both the back line and key forward positions, so several players were out of position but performed heroically nonetheless.

Bucks were first to score with a penalty close to the posts after only five minutes play.

Oxon pressed hard and a good handling move initiated by Henry Pooler saw Adam Hicks make a strong run, but he was tackled just short of the line.

Bucks responded with a blistering break through the middle by centre Chris Baker to score under the posts. Then a try from flanker Andy Keithley put Bucks 15-0 up at the break.

In the second half, Oxfordshire put some good moves togethe,r but they all broke down before the line was reached.

Bucks sealed the victory with a second-half penalty from Nick Tappin.

Oxon Under 20: B Nutt (C Norton), A Hicks (Witney), C Howard (C Norton), M Nutt (C Norton), H Pooler (Oxford Harlequins), S Laurie (C Norton), J Lakin (C Norton), J Winpenny (Chinnor), O Braithwaite (C Norton), J Smith (Ox Harlequins), J Hicks (Witney), S Robinson (Henley), M Young (Grove), A Jones (C Norton), S Evans (Oxford Harlequins). Reps: L Giles (Ox Harlequins), J Wallbridge (Grove), D Campbell (Banbury).