Witney survived a late scare before claiming a notable 16-13 home victory over Oxford University Greyhounds in the preliminary round of the Oxfordshire Cup on Friday.

The heavier Witney pack ruled the roost for much of the game, but the spirited young university second string side made it a tense finish with a late try.

The South West 1 East hosts took an early grip on the match by going ten points up in the first ten minutes.

Henry Lamb slotted a penalty and then converted a try by flanker Richard Haire, following a powerful drive from the Witney forwards.

Centre Basil Strang replied with a 35-metre penalty for the students after Witney had been caught offside.

Greyhounds strung some slick passing together and showed their speed behind the scrum.

Their reward was a second Strang penalty which made it 10-6 at half-time.

Strong tackling from the visitors prevented Witney adding to their try tally in the second half, their points being limited to two more penalties from Lamb.

Three minutes from time, Greyhounds scored a try from full back Tom Stileman, whose father, Will, played for Oxford University and Oxford RFC, while a student.

Strang converted, and although the visitors pounded the Witney line they could not score again as the hosts hung on.