County Championship Shield

TWO tries from Grove wing Harry Carr helped Oxfordshire beat defending champions Dorset & Wilts 27-14 in their opening Pool 3 clash at Banbury.

Victory was marred by an unfortunate injury to Bicester centre Dave Hampton, who broke his jaw just two minutes after coming on for his debut.

Hampton received a boot to the face as he made a tap tackle and was later operated on at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

He left hospital on Sunday and plans to support the team in Saturday’s match against Berkshire at Newbury.

Carr struck twice as Oxon used the wind well to lead 24-0 at half-time and then produced some solid defence in the second period.

The hosts got off to a great start when Carr went over in the corner after they attacked well from a midfield scrum.

Oxford Harlequins fly half Matt Smith converted from the touchline.

A length-of-the-field move led to try No 2 from Oxford Brookes hooker Matt Holyland after good work from Leo Fielding (Brookes) and Johnny Tevita (Quins).

Smith converted again before Oxon were forced to defend for ten minutes.

An interception try from Carr, converted by Smith, opened up a 21-0 lead, with Smith adding a penalty before half-time.

Dorset managed two converted tries in the third quarter, during which Hampton suffered his injury.

Smith slotted a second penalty on 65 minutes and Oxon closed the game out well.

Head coach Richard Williams, who is a Chinnor player, said: “I was following the Twitter updates for Chinnor as well, so it was a great Saturday all round.

“Outside the players and coaches, I don’t think anyone would have given us a chance on Saturday, but we had trained well.

“The pleasing aspect was the hard work and determination shown by all the players. All 22 did really well.”

  • GOSFORD All Blacks prop Tony Baughan needed stitches after a leg injury, which forced an early end to Saturday’s 48-0 friendly defeat to visitors Huddersfield YMCA.

It was feared Baughan had suffered a very serious cut down to the bone, but after checks in hospital, he is now likely to be out of action for two to three weeks.