Oxford Harlequins RFC

RUGBY UNION: We won't back off says Maudsley

By Ed Mezzetti in the Oxford Mail

Matt Maudsley has warned his Oxford Harlequins players that Chinnor will be a "very, very tough nut to crack" in tomorrow's main final (3.30pm).

But Quins' director of rugby also pledged they would not back off from the challenge of retaining the cup.

Quins are the only side to have beaten Chinnor in the league this season, but Maudsley says his men won't be favourites this time.

"Chinnor are very, very confident at the moment," said Maudsley.

"We have no doubt that this is going to be harder than the game in November.

"We are aware that they are at full strength.

"The good thing about them now is that they can play a full 15-man game.

"They are not only strong and experienced in the forwards, they also now have the full set of backs to play.

"They will be a very, very tough nut to crack.

"The Quins lads certainly won't back off.

"This cup is something that we will try and get out of our season.

"We had a few cards up our sleeves in the first game in terms of tactics.

"We are going to play them again in a fortnight and for them that's the most important game."

"The final is a game we look forward to. Saturday should be a good celebration of the partnership and our younger players."

One of these youngsters is Magdalen College School captain Nick Gardiner, 18, who is covering hooker and back row on the bench.

Maudsley said his selection was fairly simple with Tom Johnson and Anthony Jackson both away on holiday.

Neil Spottiswoode replaces Johnson at centre with Dave Payne returning in the second row.

Chinnor make two changes from the team that crushed Weston-super-Mare 39-0 last week.

Paddy Stennings replaces Alan Cawston (cricket tour) at hooker, while Ed Rixon is preferred to Adam Hastings in the back row.

Rixon starts at No 8 with Andrew McGuire and Zane Winslade shifting round a position.

Chinnor coach Jason Bowers said: "The way we played last week against Weston sets us up well for Saturday."

Captain Matt Hutchings and Sam Black have formed an impressive lineout duo in recent matches and this is an area Chinnor will look to dominate.

Added interest is provided by in-form scrum half Owen Gustafson, who lifted the cup last year as Quins skipper.

Gustafson will need to be at his sharpest if he is to win his duel with Quins No 9 Anthony Cope.

Oxford Harlequins: H Jones, Noyce, Wilson, Spottiswoode, Davies, F Jones, A Cope (capt), Aldous, Needham, DeLange, Payne, Eckert, Rowe, Gerber, Soper. Reps: Chadbone, Gardiner, Lynchsmith, Sewell, Robinson.

Chinnor: Huxford, O'Mahony, Powell, Oxley, Seymour, Cathcart, Gustafson, Winpenny, Stennings, Whelan, Hutchings (capt), Black, McGuire, Winslade, Rixon. Reps: Iosefo-Peni, Baker, Hastings, Williams, Price.

Quins suit Jackson

by Ed Mezzetti in the Oxford Mail

Quins' star man Beau Wilson

Anthony Jackson is looking forward to a new lease of life with Oxford Harlequins after almost quitting the sport.

The Oxford University No 8 made his Quins debut in Saturday's 27-10 victory over Maidenhead and hopes to stay involved with the club for another three years.

But Jackson, 28, revealed he could have followed outgoing Dark Blues skipper Joe Roff in hanging up his boots at Twickenham.

"I was thinking I was going to retire after the Varsity Match," said Jackson.

"If anything I was going to have to stop this term because of commitments with my PGCE (teacher training course).

"They were really understanding with the Varsity rugby last term and the course is a lot of work.

"But when I got the job at Radley College, I committed to it for three years, so I knew I would be staying around."

Jackson, whose teaching practice in history is at Lord Williams's School, Thame, realised playing locally could fit in with his work.

He spoke to Oxford University director of rugby Steve Hill about the prospect and was put in touch with Quins.

"I only spoke to Matt Maudsley (Quins' director of rugby) on the Monday and I was playing on the Saturday," said Jackson.

"I'm going to try and commit to one night of training a fortnight and being available most Saturdays.

"I don't know what all my commitments will be at Radley, but I am going to take a rugby team and be an assistant housemaster.

"Hopefully I will be able to at least do what Huw Jones Magdalen College School teacher is doing and play in the second term."

What did Jackson make of his first run out in South West 1?

"Having played a lot of National 2 level rugby and also played abroad, this is very different," he said.

"But what I like about it is the great hands and style of rugby Quins play.

"The Varsity Match was all about pressure, but here they just really enjoy their rugby.

"They have a laugh with each other out on the field and the banter is something else."

Matt Maudsley is keen to foster further links with the Dark Blues and Jackson feels there is potential here.

He said: "That was the smallest pack I have ever played in.

"But with a little bit more structure, we could really do well because we have some great runners out there.

"I don't see why we couldn't get a couple more Blues players up here.

"Providing you are not impacting on the spine of the team, some of the younger students could really gain from the experience."

Quins surge clear

by Ed Mezzetti in the Oxford Mail

Quins' star man Beau Wilson

Oxford Harlequins seized control of this South West 1 clash to beat Maidenhead 27-10 with an impressive second-half display despite often struggling up front. Maidenhead failed to make the most of a strong tailwind in the opening period and led just 10-8 at half-time.

With full back Huw Jones and centre Beau Wilson leading the way, Quins attacked with renewed venom after the break and could have scored more than the three tries they mustered.

Talisman Andy Henley had returned to New Zealand and the livewire Mark Preston was sidelined with a hamstring injury, but this was business as usual for Quins' backs.

And although Maidenhead repeatedly drove the home pack back at the scrum, they were never able to take full advantage against quicker opponents.

Maidenhead took control early on and it was no surprise when they scored after ten minutes. Dangerous centre Warren Abrahams ran a great line to cruise in at the corner and converted the try himself. Quins' play was disjointed at this stage, while the big boot of visiting full back Simon Swadling kept the ball clear of their 22.

Fly half Frank Jones was having a mixed afternoon, but his penalty pulled Quins back to 7-3 on 23 minutes.

The hosts then took the lead after 32 minutes with a try as spectacular as it was unexpected.

Maidenhead were still reeling from Wilson's break down the centre when Quins went wide with flanker Ferdi Gerber finding lock Dave Payne in space.

The Kiwi still had plenty to do, but beat his man and twisted over despite having little room to work with. Gerber had to be alert to stop Maidenhead fly half Mark Ruddick after he had charged down an ill-judged kick from Quins' scrum half Anthony Cope.

Cope got away with a similar aberration soon after Abrahams' penalty gave the visitors a half-time lead. Quins then went through the gears, scoring a second try on 44 minutes when Wilson played in Huw Jones for a simple finish. Frank Jones converted for 15-10.

Oxford University No 8 Anthony Jackson entered the fray as a replacement lock and put in some big hits. Maidenhead's best chances came from Abrahams and his centre partner Jonny Hammond, but the momentum was with Quins, who drove No 8 Paddy Soper over for a clinical try on 62 minutes. Soper wasted an overlap by cutting inside and wing Pete Davies went close with a break from his own half.

Try No 4, on 75 minutes, saw Huw Jones' switch pass enable Wilson to score with deceptive ease. Frank Jones' conversion wrapped up the scoring, although Cope and Huw Jones almost created a fifth try for Davies late on.

Oxford Harlequins: H Jones, Noyce, Wilson, Johnson (Sewell 70), Davies, F Jones, A Cope (capt), Aldous, Needham (Chadbone 70), DeLange, Payne, Eckert (Jackson 52), Rowe, Gerber, Soper.

Referee: B McCrudden (Gloucester).

Quins' man-of-the-match: H Jones.

Senior Rugby Update Week 4 2007- 08

“3rd Win on the Hoof for Oxford”

Oxford completed their 3rd successive win, beating Bicester 16-10 at Hinksey on Saturday. Oxford dominated in the forwards and were able to control the game in the tight. Despite losing their influential captain Elio Rechia 30 minutes into the game with an injured foot, Andy MacDonald and Nick Graham were able to capitalise on two scoring opportunities the former from a ‘catch ‘n’ drive’ and the latter from a kick-chase.

Bracknell Lineout Domination

Oxford Harlequins lost their second consecutive game away to Bracknell. Despite parity in all areas of play and dominance in the loose, ‘Quins’ were unable to overcome a very effective Bracknell forward unit, whose total control of the lineouts eventually led to them scoring three catch ‘n’ drives. The final score of 29-15 flattered Bracknell as they had very limited attacking options to their game, in contrast the ‘quins’ showed lots of attacking flair and Chris Alcock’s (Man of the Match) brace of tries was well deserved. Bracknell have clearly recruited big forwards in the hope that National Division Rugby is on the horizon, however if they continue to play in that vain, it won’t take too long until their fighting it out to stave off relegation.

Oxford Rugby II’s lost away to Windsor on Saturday 25-17.

This forthcoming weekend’s fixtures are listed below. Normal kick off times may change as a result of the World Cup quarter finals. Please await confirmation on website or refer to Oxford Mail on Friday.

Lynch-Smith is success story by Ed Mezetti, Oxford Mail

So It Begins by Luke Wilkins

New Website Launched

28th July 2007

As you have probably spotted, today we launched a new website. The aim of the new site is to keep you informed of the latest news and views around the club, with many key members of the club and committee able to update directly we should keep the website current more than in the past.

We will be uploading photos and newsletters regularly as well as providing you with up to theminute links to interesting rugby related news from the area and further afield.