Last-minute try makes it perfect for Oxfordshire

Men’s Division 2

by Ben Jaycock

Cheshire ……….37pts

Tries: Longmore 6, Cole 28, Penalty 37, Elliott 39, Blackwell 60

Conversions: Attis 7, 60

Penalties: Attis 31, 65

Oxfordshire ….38pts

Tries: Blythe 42, 66, Pummery 73, 79, Wildgoose 80

Conversions: Triggs 43, 67; Miller 73, 79, 80

Penalties: Triggs 9

Oxfordshire completed one of the greatest comebacks in County Championship finals history to secure their third title in a row courtesy of Owen Wildgoose’s dramatic last minute try.

Greg Goodfellow’s side, who were promoted to Division 2 following back-to-back third tier triumphs in 2022 and 2023, trailed 37-10 with 13 minutes remaining having lost two men to the sin-bin at the end of the first half. But they recovered to score 28 unanswered points and break Cheshire hearts.

Goodfellow said: “At 50 minutes in, people would have thought the game was dead and buried. These lads showed a desire to win, a never say die spirit, and what a way to win a final.”

Cheshire took the lead off a driving maul as beefy captain Oliver Longmore peeled away to score. Oscar Triggs hit back with a penalty but Cheshire worked their way back into the red zone and then kicked to the corner after Finn Ayris’ foolish late tackle.

Cheshire’s maul drew Oxfordshire defenders in allowing Thomas Akehurst to spin the ball to the left for Thomas Cole to score their second try. Charlie Attis’ conversion cannoned off the post but the fly-half soon made amends with a penalty.

Matters were made worse for Oxfordshire as they went down to 13 men, while also conceding a penalty try. Matt Webb was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle and prop James Leonardi joined him as he infringed a Cheshire scrum that was destined for the try line resulting in a seven-pointer.

Cheshire were running riot with their numerical advantage and scored a fourth try through Ben Elliott after a crossfield kick by Attis.

Oxfordshire got a lifeline as a clever kick over the top by substitute Ollie Nicholl led to a foot race between full-back Quinten Blythe and a bunch of forwards with only one winner.

Oxfordshire kept battling hard with openside Fin Boarder standing out in a commanding display, but Harry Blackwell crossed next for Cheshire following neat offloads by Attis and Elliot. Attis was enjoying a fine day and he dispatched a penalty from 45m but Oxfordshire scored two quick tries as the impressive Blythe finished out wide followed by replacement Connor Pummery. Harry Hughes was yellow carded for a high tackle and Pummery scored his second from close-range to setup a grandstand finish.

Cheshire conceded a succession of penalties before Oxfordshire exploited an overlap as Wildgoose stepped the defenders to score a last gasp try with James Miller slotting the match-winning conversion.

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