Oxford Harlequins 17, Cleve 30

Two fine individual tries could not compensate for a disjointed display as Oxford Harlequins slumped to a disappointing defeat in South West 1.

Full back Huw Jones and scrum half Anthony Cope provided the moments of class for Quins, who may not have deserved to lose by such a margin.

But they lacked the control Cleve exerted to pull clear of their relegation rivals.

With the pitch already very soft at kick-off, this was never going to be a thrilling running game, and the quality of play wasn’t helped by lots of aimless kicking.

The opening try on 16 minutes came almost out of nothing, but Cleve were powerless to counter it.

Centre Shaunn Lombard cleverly delayed his off-load to allow Jones to hit the line at top speed and motor in under the posts from 40 metres.

Fly half Mark Forth added the conversion, but it was soon 7-3 after Cleve scrum half Lee Audis slotted a penalty.

While chances were few and far between, the crowd did at least have a sizeable brawl on the touchline to entertain them.

Referee Doug Neagle, who didn’t have the best of days, was largely unsighted, so both teams remained with 15 players.

Cleve wing Dan Ajuwa powered over for a try in the corner on 31 minutes after an injury to Quins’ temporary replacement Ed Davies left their defence threadbare.

Quins hooker Dave Needham was felled by a dangerous high tackle, but his assailant went unpunished.

The hosts had the consolation of a half-time lead thanks to a Forth penalty, but they lost wing Ollie Campbell to a hamstring injury.

Ajuwa blasted over from close range to restore Cleve’s lead on 47 minutes, with Audis converting from the touchline.

Cleve’s well-drilled pack gave them real momentum and Quins wing Nick Sevier was yellow-carded in a desperate period of defence.

Quins survived this pressure, but could not stop flanker Guy Mercer crossing over from centre John Pritchard’s pass.

No 8 Anthony Jackson got through huge amounts of work for the hosts, battling on despite a first-half head wound.

Just when Quins looked out of it, Cope tapped and went from a 70th-minute penalty and managed to score after a 40-metre run.

Forth’s conversion reduced the deficit to 20-17, and a dramatic finish looked on.

Sevier was pulled back for a forward pass from replacement prop Will Johnson when he had space to exploit, but an Audis penalty secured Cleve’s win.

Even after this, Quins had plenty of half chances, but kept on spilling the ball.

Cleve fly half Mike Ward rubbed salt in the wound in stoppage time with a breakaway try, which Audis also converted.

Oxford Harlequins: H Jones, Sevier, Spottiswoode, Lombard, Sevier, Campbell (Lawson 39), Forth, Cope, Chadbone (capt) (Johnson 62), Needham, Ferreira, Gray, Pearson, Nicholl (Davies 66), Young, Jackson (Davies [blood] 31-4).

Referee: D Neagle (Hampshire)

Quins man-of-the-match: Jackson.