National 3 South West

Oxford Harlequins need just two more points to be sure of finishing third after their 43-10 home victory over Reading.

This result, coupled with Chinnor’s shock 22-7 defeat at home to Exmouth, leaves Quins, who made seven changes, well set with two games left.

Reading took the lead on four minutes when centre Oliver Smith gathered a chip kick to score.

But three minutes later, lock Morgan Cross was driven over, and centre Jeff Stewart converted from out wide.

No 8 Adam Pearson’s line-out catch enabled Cross to go over for his second on 20 minutes.

Centre Anthony Cope bagged try No 3, supporting well after wing Xavier Andre’s 40-metre run.

Stewart converted before another Andre run enabled full back Mark Forth to touch down a fourth try.

Half backs Nick Haydon and Kenny Sewell gave wing Martin Nutt the platform to race in from 50 metres, with Stewart’s conversion making it 31-5 at half-time.

Lock Andy Boyle ambled over for try No 6 on 45 minutes, Stewart converting from the touchline.

Adam Veal bagged a second try for Reading, but Andre scored a mesmeric long-range solo effort to complete Quins’ tally.

Reading’s Smith was sin-binned for punching on 79 minutes.

Chinnor’s 22-7 defeat to Exmouth was described as ‘zombie-like’ and the low-point of their season.

A woeful Chinnor pass allowed Exmouth’s Jack Downie to hack through and score their opening try on ten minutes.

Chinnor No 8 Sam Jones was yellow-carded for interfering on the ground and fly half Shaun Fayter put Exmouth 8-0 up.

With the strong wind against them, this scoreline would not have been a disaster for Chinnor at the break.

But just before half-time, Ex-mouth’s Tom Elliott ran through some weak tackling for try No 2, Fayter converting.

Jones managed Chinnor’s sole try, converted by fly half James Cathcart, on 49 minutes.

Chinnor seemed to have more hope when Downie was sin-binned on 55 minutes for a “no hands” tackle.

But flanker Ben Boswell scored and converted his own try to complete Exmouth’s tally.