Oxford Harlequins 12, Chinnor 32

Chinnor cruised to victory in a fiercely-contested National 3 South West derby despite finishing with 14 men.

The visitors ran in four tries via some often electric back play and never looked back after responding immediately to Quins’ opening try.

Centre Matt Goode, who had shown a full range of midfield skills, was sent off for a second yellow card by referee Adam Friend, who also sin-binned three others.

But even with a man down, Chinnor stayed on top and finished the stronger.

The visitors’ impressive fly half Ben Hewitt put them ahead with a well-struck penalty on four minutes.

Quins, however, showed plenty of enterprise in their backs and only a forward pass prevented centre Tom Speechly scoring a well-worked try.

On ten minutes, they took the lead when Chinnor were caught napping by a quick penalty and flanker Tim Knapp applied the finishing touch.

Quins barely had time to celebrate before Goode was allowed to turn on the edge of the 22 and blast through to score their opening try.

Hewitt converted this and a second try from centre Sam Stoop, who swept past full back Graeme Crapper, to touch down with ease.

Stoop’s next contribution was to be sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Quins scrum half Alasdair Mapero that many felt merited a red card.

Two minutes later, with barely a quarter of the game gone, Quins centre Frank Jones was yellow-carded after using his shoulder in the tackle.

Like Speechly before him, Chinnor wing Ben Farr was also denied a try by a forward pass.

But on 32 minutes, their industrious flanker Nick Harrison chased what looked a lost cause and Crapper’s fumble allowed him a soft try.

Hewitt hit the post with his only missed kick of the afternoon.

Quins gave themselves hope when fly half Jeff Stewart scored via a simple show and go move and added the conversion.

Hewitt slotted a penalty to make it 25-12 at the break.

Chinnor effectively killed off the game two minutes after the restart with a superb flowing move involving Goode and scrum half Ricky Hopwood and finished by full back Richard Williams.

Hewitt’s conversion proved the final score as the match became scrappier and more ragged.

Goode received his first yellow card on 56 minutes following an off-the-ball clash with Stewart that also saw the Quins man sin-binned.

A minute later, wing James Serrano charged down a Crapper clearance, but was ruled not to have grounded the ball in goal as he went for try No 5.

Quins’ pack continued to function well, but the closest they came scoring was when lock Andy Boyle almost forced his way over.

Goode’s second yellow card came after he failed to roll away from a 70th-minute tackle.

But Quins never looked like taking advantage of their superior numbers.

Oxford Harlequins: Crapper, Noyce, Speechly, F Jones, H Jones, Stewart, Maspero, Chadbone (capt) (Eckert 70), Clark, Barlow (Chadbone 78), Pearson (Clayton 53), Boyle, Young (Lyness 40), Knapp, Welburn.

Chinnor: R Williams, Serrano, Goode (Powell 15-20 [blood]), Stoop, Farr (Powell 58), Hewitt, Hopwood, Winpenny, Tattersall, Pickett (Whelan 40), Hutchings (capt), Smith, Jackman (Hastings 75), Harrison, Mowbray.

Referee: A Friend (Devon).

Man-of-the-match: Hewitt.