FOR the moment, Oxford Harlequins can call themselves the kings of the city after their comprehensive 20-6 victory over Oxford at the Southern Bypass on Saturday.

Three tries in the first 25 minutes sewed up this long-awaited derby meeting for Quins, whose overwhelming superiority up front made the Southern Counties North clash a one-sided contest.

Quins, in their previous guises as Old Boys and Marathon, have waited ten years to take on their once senior rivals in a league match - which made victory all the sweeter at the end.

To their credit, Oxford fought hard to avoid the rout that looked on the cards early on and emerged with some credit.

Knowing their frailties up front, Oxford decided to play an open game, but these tactics backfired twice in the first six minutes.

Firstly, a threequarter-move broke down in midfield and Quins forced a line-out close to the Oxford line. Outstanding lock Chris Price not only won the ball, but then was up in support at an ensuing ruck to be driven over the line for the first try.

Then Quins' nippy fly half Lewis Taylor intercepted a pass by scrum half Will Brewer and galloped 60 metres for a try which Paul Brown converted.

Six minutes gone and 12 points down, Oxford could have caved in, especially after hooker Tony Turner had departed with a dislocated elbow. They conceded another try after 25 minutes when, following more good line-out possession, Taylor sent in Brown on a blindside run.

Oxford's spirited tackling and Quins' over eagerness allowed the home side to stop the rot, and two penalty goals from Richard Lee pulled the scoreline back to 17-6 at half-time.

The second half was a scrappy, ill-tempered affair, with the referee having to issue several stern lectures.

With the forwards dominating the set-pieces and No 8 Paul Neal and scrum half Anthony Cope continually crossing the gain line round the base of the scrum, Quins stayed in charge.

But they had just a penalty by Brown to show for their efforts in the second half.

Although Ed Obolensky made a promising debut, and Glenn Hunt ran effectively from full back at times, Oxford never looked like scoring a try and can have no complaints about this decisive defeat.

Oxford: Hunt (capt), Mason, Stevenson, E Obolensky, Engwell, Lee, Brewer, Walter, Turner (Beaumont 12), Lawfull, Lockyer, Fielder (McKnight 72), Watkins, Dargie, Freeman.

Oxford Harlequins: Richardson, Perkins, S Pollard, Brown, Ellis, Taylor, Cope (Wright 80), Molyneux, Hopper, Silversides (capt), M Pollard (Lennon 70), Price, Bowden, Newman, Neal.

Referee: S Hanney (Devon).

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