OXFORD Harlequins suffered another setback in their battle to avoid relegation, as they were dealt their heaviest defeat of the season in a 56-0 hammering at Hornets.

The loss leaves Quins in the last relegation spot in National 3 South West with four games remaining.

Next placed Old Patesians are five points clear and have a game in hand.

It was a day to forget in Somerset as a youthful Quins side were made to pay for poor tackling, with Hornets storming to a 32-0 lead at the break.

The hosts were ahead with just a minute on the clock with Tom Bradley going over, before James Letherby’s drop goal extended their lead to eight points.

Matt Cornish and Conor Littlewood crashed over for 18-0, before they both went over before the break.

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Letherby adding the extras.

Quins made several changes at half-time in an effort to tighten up the defence, but Hornets added a further four tries in the second period.

Jacob Swain went over for his first senior score, while Cornish added two more converted tries, sandwiched by Phil Hogarth’s effort, for a convincing 56-0 scoreline.