RUGBY UNION: Oxfordshire optimistic (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Oxfordshire optimistic

11:00am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti

OXFORDSHIRE have high hopes when they kick-off their National Under 20 Championship South West A campaign against Berkshire at Henley on Sunday (2.15).

And with 2011 group winners Dorset & Wilts losing to Buckinghamshire last week, Oxon believe they have a great chance of qualifying.

“The play-offs are therefore considered a minimum for us,” said Oxfordshire team manager Nick Cole.

“Dorset & Wilts are traditionally seen as the favourites of this pool, although having only beaten us by two points in 2010 and one point in 2011 and having lost to Buckinghamshire, the bookmakers should watch their odds!”

Oxfordshire include six Oxford Harlequins and four Henley players in their squad, while Grove wing Harry Carr will look to continue his try-scoring form.

Oxfordshire: M Johnson (Henley), H Carr (Grove), D Massey (Reading Abbey), J Tevita (Oxford Harlequins), S Wareham (Oxford University), W Millett (Chinnor), W Watts (Gosford All Blacks), N Humphreys (Chinnor), T Soppet (Morley), S Steventon (Oxford Harlequins), L Arnold (Oxford Harlequins), R Russell (Oxford University), R Wright (Henley), S Kharbouch (Henley), J Horwood (Bicester). Reps: C McCaffery (Oxford Harlequins), L Gibson (Henley), R Farahani (Oxford Harlequins), A Neal (Oxford Harlequins), T Morton (Witney), B File (Witney), D Aslett (Bicester).