Leicestershire 33, Oxfordshire 12

Two late tries from makeshift wing Tim Knapp could not mask a disappointing defeat for Oxfordshire in the County Championship Shield.

Leicestershire’s victory at Hinckley leaves them in charge of Pool 1 and favourites to reach the semi-finals.

Their victory, in wet and blustery conditions, was well deserved, but Oxon can still qualify as the best runners-up from the three pools.

Oxfordshire made ten of the 12 interchanges they were allowed under the RFU trial, but it was hard to tell what benefit they derived from them.

They made a number of changes from their victory against East Midlands, but started quite brightly, with flanker Ryan Newman leading a charge into the home 22.

Leicestershire were more clinical and opened the scoring on ten minutes when hooker Luke Coltman finished a good forwards move.

Captain Mike March was sin-binned after a post-try scuffle, but Oxon could not take advantage of their extra man.

Leicestershire fly half Mark Lord slotted a 14th-minute penalty, while his opposite number, James Cathcart, missed an easy touch after opting against a kick at goal in the strong wind.

Oxon failed to capitalise on several minutes of good pressure and were denied a try on 25 minutes when wing Tom Clipsham was ruled to have thrown centre Richard Williams a forward pass.

Flanker Knapp went close with a sharp break, then Cathcart hooked a penalty wide.

Oxfordshire were right in it, but 15 points in the ten minutes before half-time ended their hopes A Lord penalty, a superb solo try from No 8 Ben Ashfield, who finished like a wing, and a well-worked score from centre Will Keeling made it 23-0.

Oxon had the wind behind them in the second half, but went further behind to a Lord penalty on 42 minutes.

Leicestershire’s final try came after Lord’s penalty was held up in the wind. Cathcart and replacement Tom Mowbray both went for the ball and combined to knock on.

Oxon never cleared the ball and Keeling stepped inside full back Mark Forth for his second try, Lord converting.

The visitors managed something of a final flurry and Keeling was sin-binned on 68 minutes as his side were forced to defend desperately.

Oxon finally had something to cheer when Knapp, who returned to the fray as a winger, capitalised on a fine break from wing Nick Sevier to score under the posts.

Cathcart converted before Sevier and Knapp repeated their trick on the left wing.

Oxfordshire: Forth, Clipsham, R Williams, J Hewitt (Woodhouse 41), N Sevier, Cathcart, Burns (Knapp 66), Winpenny (Eckert 31-52), Copperwheat (Henk 43), Pickett (Whelan 31-52), Hutchings (capt), Black, Newman, Knapp (Nicholl 60), Welburn (Mowbray 31-60).

Referee: D Proctor (RFU).

Oxon man-of-the-match: Knapp.