Oxford Harlequins 25, Clifton 41

A strong final quarter from South West 1 title hopefuls Clifton eventually saw Oxford Harlequins well-beaten in this see-saw encounter.

Quins, who are now bottom of the table, trailed 19-3 in the first half, but were right back in the game at 22-18 down by the hour mark.

The tide turned decisively again when Quins' veteran prop Paul DeLange was sin-binned after stupidly launching himself into a maul.

By the time DeLange re-entered the fray his side were out of it at 36-18.

Quins were up against it from the start as they had only one replacement available and several players lined up out of position.

This included hooker Ollie Campbell playing on the wing where he showed his versatility with two tries!

Quins' centre Nick Sevier opened the scoring with an 11th-minute penalty after both sides began in error-laden form.

Clifton made fewer mistakes over the afternoon and capitalised well on those Quins offered up.

Maltese international winger Ollie Sacco put the visitors ahead with a try on 14 minutes after being set up by lock Paul Reid.

Fly half John Barnes slotted the conversion and his tactical kicking proved key to Clifton's victory.

A mix up between Quins' wing Craig Leslie and full back Huw Jones almost gifted Clifton a second try.

A better pass would have seen Clifton wing Ollie Sills notch soon afterwards as they ran back Andy Noyce's loose clearance.

Barnes and Sevier traded missed penalties, the former being an absolute sitter, before Clifton full back Sam Smee finished a try he had started.

This time Barnes converted from out wide, and Clifton were celebrating again on 34 minutes after Sills pounced on Noyce's poor pass to sprint in.

Quins needed to hit back soon and thought they had when skipper Simon Chadbone sent No 8 Ben Nicholl over in the left corner.

However, the Clifton touch judge controversially ruled that Nicholl had stepped out of play.

The outstanding lock Adam Pearson gave Quins a lifeline in stoppage time after fly half Mark Forth's thumping tackle saw the ball bounce into space.

Pearson kicked ahead, won the chase to touch down and give Sevier a simple conversion.

Having used Nick Gardner, their only sub, in the first half, Quins were bound to suffer in the hot conditions.

But they began the second half well with flanker Matt Young, playing first match after 11 months out with a groin injury, and makeshift lock Ed Davies to the fore.

A penalty apiece from Barnes and Forth kept the scoreboard ticking over before Campbell pounced on some over-elaboration in the Clifton defence to run in an interception try.

DeLange's absence gave Clifton a second wind with Sills, after another mix up, and No 8 John Levis bagging tries converted by Barnes.

Stoppage time saw the visitors drive flanker Vince Murrell over and Campbell score a fine second for Quins after great running from Forth, who converted, and Jones.

Oxford Harlequins: H Jones, Leslie, Sevier, Noyce, Campbell, Forth, Sewell, Chadbone (capt), Needham, DeLange, Davies, Pearson, Young, Gerber (Gardner 27), Nicholl.

Referee: D Maddern (Gloucester).

Quins' man-of-the-match: Pearson.