OXFORDSHIRE kick-started their County Championship Shield campaign with a commanding 59-27 win over Berkshire at Chipping Norton on Saturday.

Bicester’s Francois Wiese and Guy Nicholl (Grove) both crossed twice, while Henry Lamb (Witney) kicked 14 points with the boot.

There was confusion over the score as the majority on the sidelines believed Oxfordshire had scored 63 points.

However, the fourth official ruled Lamb had converted four of his side’s nine tries and the hosts settled for 59.

The victory sees Oxfordshire top Pool 1 on points difference, after Leicestershire convincingly beat Buckinghamshire 45-14.

Oxfordshire overpowered the visitors as they scored five tries in 30 scintillating first half minutes.

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Wiese was first to cross in the second minute, Lamb converted, before full back James Monks dived over for 12-0.

Bicester centre Wiese touched down for his second to finish off a fine team move and Lamb impressively kicked a penalty from halfway to stretch the hosts’ lead to 20-0.

Berkshire were sloppy in possession, while they were pinned in their own half by a determined Oxfordshire side who never let their intensity drop.

On 30 minutes, the hosts secured the bonus point when Harry Stapleton misjudged Ed Phillips’s kick and Oxford Harlequins second row Luke Brown crossed with ease.

Lamb added the extras.

The visitors responded through Roy Wilkinson’s brilliant solo try, but Oxfordshire ended the half on top as replacement Nicholl dived over.

Lamb converted for 34-5 at the break.

Oxfordshire put the game out of reach within the first eight minutes of the second half as Brendon White, Nicholl and Joe Mills touched down.

However, Berkshire went onto have their best spell of the match and scored three times to secure a bonus point.

Barry Dwyer raced clear to cross, before Stuart Silvester and Nick Ovens forced their way over.

Lamb slotted a penalty to get Oxfordshire back on the scoreboard, but Berkshire’s Ben Yates jinked through to score under the posts.

Stapleton added the extras.

Oxfordshire had the last say when replacement Seamus O’Dwyer planted the ball after Lamb and Wiese broke the visitors’s defensive line.

Oxfordshire: Monks, White (Lewis 53), Clarke, Wiese (Nicholl 30, Wiese 70), Mills, Lamb, Phillips (J Chilvers 53), Eckert, Collins (Walsh H/T), Boulton (O’Dwyer H/T), Brown, Purchase (C Chilvers 70), C Chilvers (Haire H/T), Horwood, Bellinger.

Referee: R Santana.