RUGBY UNION: Quins flop in opener (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Quins flop in opener

10:00am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in Sport

National 3 South West

OXFORD Harlequins suffered a disappointing 49-14 home defeat to Barnstaple in their season opener.

Quins flattered to deceive with a bright start that saw them lead 14-0, but their poor tackling was then ruthlessly exposed by the Devon visitors.

The hosts took the lead in the first minute, when centre Jack Cosins released debutant wing Jack Briggs on a 30-metre run to the line.

Fly half Alex Stevenson converted and Quins struck again ten minutes later.

Stevenson’s cross-kick saw lock Alex Powell follow up well to score, with the former converting.

This was as good as it got for Quins as tries from centre Ryan Carter and wing Linford Brock, with centre Josh Squire converting both and slotting a penalty, putting Barnstaple 17-14 ahead at half-time.

Quins’ woes increased as No 8 Olly Rees was carried off with a knee injury in between the tries.

Squire added penalties on 50 and 55 minutes and converted Brock’s second try.

The floodgates well and truly opened late on, with full back Will Topps, Alex Priest and Brock, for his hat-trick, crossing over, while Squire and wing Luke Berry added two more conversions.