RUGBY UNION: Quins slump to rock bottom (From Witney Gazette)

RUGBY UNION: Quins slump to rock bottom

10:00am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Rugby

National 3 South West

OXFORD Harlequins slipped to the bottom of the table after an 18-13 defeat at Maidenhead – the only team who had a worse record than them beforehand.

Like Quins, Maidenhead had suffered five heavy defeats in their opening five fixtures, but they withstood a late surge to claim the spoils.

Fly half Will Hilton kicked a tenth-minute penalty, but Quins were lacklustre.

On 15 minutes, a lineout saw Maidenhead lock Mark Mueller score in the corner.

Home fly half David Hodgson slotted a penalty on 36 minutes, while Quins had lock Karl Krockford yellow-carded.

Hodgson and Hilton exchanged penalties after the break, then the decisive moment came on 65 minutes.

Maidenhead scrum half Elliot Brown shot through a gap on the 22 to go under the posts and Hodgson converted.

Quins woke up and were rewarded on 70 minutes when scrum half Jack Cosins and Hilton combined to set wing Jack Briggs on a great line to score, Hilton converting.

The visitors pressed hard and Maidenhead prop Mike Parrot was yellow-carded, but it was not to be.