Oxford Harlequins climbed to fifth in the National 3 South West table after grinding out this battling victory.

Quins had not beaten Cleve in six previous attempts and were pushed all the way by their visitors from Bristol.

But despite having two players sin-binned in the second half, they closed out a tight win with a late Kenny Sewell penalty.

This was probably a game Quins would have lost in previous seasons, but they showed the sort of focus and concentration that augurs well.

They took the lead on eight minutes when alert flanker Andy Boyle charged down a clearance, snaffled the loose ball and piled over for a try.

Scrum half Sewell converted well from out wide, but Cleve soon hit back with a penalty from fly half Nathan Huntley.

A strong driving maul gave Sewell the chance to put Quins 10-3 up with a 29th-minute penalty.

Quins locks Adam Pearson and Craig Burrows both stole line-out ball as the pressure continued, but Cleve skipper and No 8 Sam Roach was driven over just before the break.

The second half started brilliantly for Quins as Martin Nutt made a great interception before off-loading for wing Andy Noyce to score.

Sewell’s conversion made it 17-8, but Huntley struck back with his second penalty.

Quins’ debutant No 8 Jason Welburn was sin-binned for killing the ball on 50 minutes and they could not clear the ball before Roach bagged his second try from a well-worked back-row move.

Huntley’s conversion gave Cleve a slender lead and Quins fans wondered if this might be another match to ‘get away’.

Their fears were soon allayed by a Sewell penalty, and then came what proved the game’s telling moment.

On 58 minutes, Cleve looked well-placed to score when Noyce gambled and claimed an excellent interception.

The ball was quickly spun wide to Grant Ricker, who showed electric pace to run in a try from inside his own half.

Two penalties from full back Marcus Brooker saw the visitors just one point behind and Quins did not help themselves by conceding a number of penalties, although captain Simon Chadbone was a little unlucky to be sin-binned for ‘holding on’ inside Cleve’s 22.

However, Cleve transgressed again and gave referee Douglas Neagle some back- chat, which brought Sewell in range for the penalty that sealed victory. Oxford Harlequins: Crapper, Noyce, Nutt, Cope, Ricker, Stewart, Sewell, Chadbone, Needham (DeLange 60), Boulton, Pearson, Burrows (Newman 60), Boyle, Cross, Welburn. Rep not used: Campbell.

Referee: D Neagle (Hampshire).

Man-of-the-match: Boyle.