OXFORDSHIRE’S County Championship Shield dream is over for another year after a 39-6 defeat to Leicestershire at Chipping Norton.

Three tries in the first 16 minutes all but put the match beyond Oxon as they struggled to deal with Leicestershire’s power and intensity.

The sides went into the clash level on ten points in Pool 1, with victory guaranteeing a semi-final place.

Defeat left Oxon dependant on being the best second-placed team, but Pool 3 runners-up Essex pipped them by a point after a 48-15 win over Middlesex.

Their fate was confirmed a couple of hours after the final whistle, but head coach Craig Burrows had refused to hold out any hope of qualifying for the last four and admitted Leicestershire deserved to win.

“We just got outgunned,” he said.

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“We knew physicality was going to be an issue and it was all around the field.

“Around the breakdowns we got outmuscled, we made a lot of silly errors and they were clinical.

“The gulf in the standard and quality of their set of players told, particularly in the first half.

“I would be surprised if Leicestershire don’t win it.”

The hosts missed an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the opening minutes as Henry Lamb’s penalty slipped wide of the posts.

And almost instantly Leicestershire centre Will Cave strolled through for an unconverted try.

Lamb made no mistake with a three-pointer, but Cave picked up on a handling error to touch down again.

Rick Aley added the extras.

The visitors’ dominance continued as Aley converted his own try for a 19-3 lead after 16 minutes.

Lamb and Aley exchanged penalties, before the visitors inflicted more damage.

Will Ward robbed Cash Chilvers of possession to crash over for a bonus point.

Aley converted for 29-6.

The hosts were more competitive after the break, but Aley extended Leicestershire’s lead with another penalty.

Oxfordshire pushed for a score, but Sam Collins was denied within metres of the line.

Leicestershire added another try late on when Ewan Bartlett planted the ball.

Aley converted out wide.

Oxfordshire: Robinson, Yeats (Monks 68), Clarke, Nicholl, Mills (Borthwick H/T), Lamb, Phillips (J Chilvers 58), Eckert (capt), Collins (O’Dwyer 55), Walsh (Horwood 68), Brown, Purchase, C Chilvers (Haire 50), Wells (Wiese 68), Bellinger.