RUGBY UNION: Young Quins are well beaten (From Witney Gazette)

RUGBY UNION: Young Quins are well beaten

10:30am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Rugby

National 3 South West

A YOUNG and inexperienced Oxford Harlequins side slipped to a fourth straight heavy defeat, this time 65-12 at Exmouth.

Some enterprising play by the visitors, who included three 19-year olds, two 20-year-olds and only two players over 25, was not always matched by execution.

And loose defence let in Exmouth for a number of easy tries.

Quins kicked off and did not get their hands on the ball until Exmouth had missed a penalty kick at goal and scored tries from Stuart Lowe and Jack Downie.

It was 17-0 after ten minutes with Tom Elliott crossing over and Andrew Powell converting.

Powell and Tom Kill ran in tries four and five before Quins managed some pressure.

This led to veteran prop Paul de Lange powering over to make it 27-5 at the break.

Kill bagged his second before a well-judged interception from centre Pita Halatokoua brought a second for Quins, this time converted by debutant full back Will Hilton.

Exmouth were kept out for 20 minutes, but Quins conceded five more tries after an injury to de Lange.

Powell completed his hat-trick and slotted four conversions, while Jon Fabian (2), Dave Bargent and Adam Garner also crossed over for the hosts.

Quins are only kept off the bottom by Maidenhead on points difference.

It is unlikely to get any easier for them on Saturday when they host unbeaten London Irish Wild Geese.