Oxford Harlequins produced a lacklustre display that saw them deservedly thrashed in their first home game of the National 3 South West season.

Coney Hill are not expected to be among the stronger sides in this division, but they simply wanted it much more than a Quins team who have undoubted individual talents.

The hosts were never competitive at the breakdown and were often soft in their tackling.

If neither are drastically improved, this will be another season of struggle.

For all this, Quins started well and things looked good when full back Martin Nutt danced his way through for a fine solo try in the ninth minute.

Scrum half Kenny Sewell converted and most among the rather small home support would have looked forward to more of the same.

Instead a slick handling move five minutes later allowed flanker Craig Bellinger to score on the left for Coney Hill.

A quick tapped penalty from Sewell and fly half Andy Noyce’s grubber through allowed the former to dive over for 12-5 after 16 minutes.

Even when visiting full back Danny Davis raced in for their second try, this looked like being an even contest.

But Coney Hill grew in intensity.

Visiting captain Mark Rimmer won the chase to his own hack through to touch down for a try which wing Adam Morgan converted.

The impressive Davis was denied a try by a forward pass, but reacted first to a chip through as the Quins’ defence stood static and got the lucky bounce to score.

Adam Morgan’s conversion made it 24-12 at the break, so it was imperative for Quins that they came out strongly.

However, just three minutes into the second half, Coney Hill again capitalised on some good fortune as wing Luke Morgan scored after his marker Ollie Campbell misjudged a bouncing ball.

Adam Morgan’s conversion made it 31-12 and basically game over.

Quins’ woe was summed up when replacement fly half John Bean kicked a penalty he was aiming for touch over the dead-ball line.

Coney Hill fly half Rory Baker then dummied his way over for their sixth try on 70 minutes, Adam Morgan converting.

Quins gave themselves hope of a four-try bonus point when flanker Ryan Newman drove over on 73 minutes and Sewell converted.

But as they tried to force the play, the outstanding Rimmer was gifted his second try by Noyce’s loose off-load and Adam Morgan converted.

Oxford Harlquins: Nutt, Campbell (Bean 50), Cope, Rickner, Maley, Noyce, Sewell, Chadbone (capt), Needham, Boulton (DeLange 40), Purchase (Rees 40), Newman, Knapp, Cross.

Referee: R Bennett (Buckinghamshire).

Quins’ man-of-the-match: Nutt.