Match report by Richard Tilley

It was a case of what might have been for Oxfordshire as they saw the chance of a place in the semi-finals of rugby union's Tetley's Bitter County Championship slip away at Redruth on Saturday.

Holders Cornwall, roared on by some 6,000 frenzied supporters, played with pride and thunder. However, it was a game which Oxon should have won.

Throughout, the visitors were stronger, fitter, faster and slicker than their hosts.

But simple mistakes and an insistence on running at the resolute Cornish midfield when they might have been best served spinning the ball wide, cost them dear.

The result was no travesty. Cornwall were deserved winners because they refused to buckle under intense pressure and then took their chances clinically.

But, they looked an essentially limited side compared with Oxon, who must believe that they have blown a fantastic opportunity to go all the way to Twickenham and lift the trophy for the first time in the county's history.

Indeed, there was no little relief in the home camp after the game. In the opinion of one venerable Cornish journalist, Oxon were the best side seen in the Duchy for many years.

It might be a long while before they see another of such quality again.

The Rugby Football Union are thought to be about to ban players from Allied Dunbar Premiership clubs from turning out in the competition. If that is the case, Oxon with 19 of Saturday's squad of 22 coming from Henley will field a very different line-up next season. The visitors looked far from impressive in the opening exchanges, with giant winger Steve Larkins slotting two penalties to make it 6-0 after ten minutes.

But Oxon got into their stride and were soon putting the hosts under real pressure.

Winger Mat Maudsley looked certain to score wide out on the left, but stumbled as he cut back inside and was held up just short.

Then, from a series of scrums on the Cornish line, centre Ricardo Van Zyl, No 8 Steve Barnes and fly half Ben Tubb all went agonisingly close to going over.

But Oxon were being hurt by unnecessary errors.

Twice in the 21st minute the referee blew up for for crossing in midfield. From the second penalty, Larkins had a pop at goal, and although his effort drifted wide, Cornwall won the ball from the drop-out, setting up fly half Jimmy Tucker to go over in the left-hand corner. Larkins slotted the conversion, and suddenly Oxon trailed 13-0.

It got worse in the 25th minute when Oxon turned the ball over, tried to win it back illegally and Larkins kicked another penalty to make it 16-0.

Immediately, the visitors stormed into the Cornish 22. But there was a sense, even at this early stage, that it was not going to be their day.

In the 28th minute, openside Mark Venner crossed the line, but was turned on to his back and penalised for failing to release the ball.

Then, moments later, Maudsley was streaking away down the left wing when the referee called him back for a forward pass a dubious decision. With the interval looming, Oxon desperately needed a try, but they just could not break down the home side.

They were, however, awarded a penalty for offside under the posts, and wisely chose to get some points on the board, Maudsley making it 16-3.

But the visitors ruined all this good work with one mistake. Somehow, they allowed the restart to bounce into touch a yard from their own line, and when they were caught offside in midfield, Larkins landed the kick to put Cornwall ahead 19-3 at the break. Still, there was hope for Oxfordshire if they could get an early score in the second half.

Right from the kick-off they attacked the Cornish, and they got their reward when quicksilver full back Pete Davies jinked through to set up the hard-running Van Zyl.

Maudsley's tricky kick drifted a fraction wide, but at 19-8, things were looking up for Oxon. The crowd became edgy and quiet and the Cornish pack suddenly looked weary.

But, just when they had taken the initiative, the visitors handed it straight back.

Larkins made it 22-8 when Venner conceded a penalty for a high tackle, and from the restart, Davies kicked straight into touch. The error was compounded when Cornwall chipped through from the resulting scrum and Davies slipped on his own line and was engulfed.

Oxon held firm on this occasion, and Davies redeemed himself when he made the break which forced the hosts to transgress deep in their 22. Maudsley was on target with the kick to reduce the deficit to 22-11. And it was 22-16 on 67 minutes, the ball being moved simply and swiftly along the line to put right winger Dave Knight in at the corner. The home crowd cheered as Maudsley's attempted conversion drifted agonisingly wide.

The game was there for Oxfordshire's taking.

But, frustratingly, the costly mistakes resurfaced.

Oxon gave away a careless penalty for going over the top, and while Larkins missed the kick, Davies sliced the drop-out straight into touch. From the resulting scrum, Tucker shrugged off a couple of poor tackles to cross in Hellfire Corner and send the fans wild.

The conversion was missed, but at 27-16 with just five minutes to go, the game was as good as over.