MATCH REPORT: CENTAURS BEATEN BY QUALITY QUINS

RAMS Centaurs fell to a 32-7 Counties One Tribute Southern North defeat as Oxford Harlequins 2nd XV recorded a deserved victory at Old Bath Road.

The away side started strongly and were good value for the lead when a slick handling move among their impressive three-quarters was finished by Conor O’Shaughnessy on the right.

Visiting fly-half Ralph Jones was unable to add the extras from the touchline, but he made no mistake with a straight-forward 35-metre penalty from in front of the posts after Rams were pinged at the breakdown.

O’Shaughnessy was close to doubling his tally midway through the first half, but while he was stopped short, outstanding No. 8 Ollie Cassidy was able to get over for a score added to by Jones.

The Mighty Cents continued to battle despite being forced into a backs reshuffle following knocks to centre duo Alex Griffiths and Karl Quartey, but their hopes suffered a major blow on the stroke of half-time as Matt Marenghi powered through a couple of would-be tackles to get down on the left wing.

Playing with the wind at their backs in the second period, the hosts proved competitive after the break without truly looking like launching a full-on comeback.

At times the bounce of the ball did not go their way – one kick from just outside their 22 running all the way through the Quins’ deadball zone – and the away side wrapped up a bonus-point with a fourth try, second row Ben Jenkins the scorer from close range before the extras were added.

Salt was rubbed into the Cents’ proverbial wounds when another slick counter-attack was finished by Ben Vernede, the outside centre perhaps fortunate to be awarded the try after it appeared he had knocked on short of the line.

Trailing 32-0, the hosts rallied themselves for a final push and gained a deserved try in the final stages, some lovely continuity play eventually finished as Alex Morgans – who put in a whole-hearted performance throughout – touched down.

Skipper Jack Gaylor added the extras, but it was merely a consolation for a Cents side who host Grove on Saturday.