RUGBY UNION: Freak injury hits county bid

From the Oxford Mail, first published Tuesday 30th May 2006.

OXFORDSHIRE full back James Hewitt was left devastated after being ruled out of yesterday's County Championship Plate final by a freak injury.

The 20-year-old Chinnor player was due to start at Twickenham, but suffered an horrific leg break in the car park just hours beforehand.

Speaking after his side's 21-17 defeat by Notts, Lincs & Derbys, Oxfordshire coach John Brodley said: "He was just kicking a ball around in the car park and put his foot in a pothole.

"He turned his leg over and fractured his shin in four places.

"James was x-rayed in the doctors' room at Twickenham and then taken back to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

"He was really devastated and we had to reshuffle by bring his brother Ben in on the bench.

"I would have thought his injury will keep him out for a good number of weeks."

Brodley admitted Oxfordshire's kicking game let them down as they suffered Twickenham heartbreak for the second time in four years, despite mounting a late challenge.

He praised his side's effort, but felt the game was won and loss with the boot.

"Our kicking game was really poor today." he said "There was very little difference between the sides, but their full back Tim Robinson made all his touches and kicked his points.

"I thought they were a little bit stronger than us up front, but we hardly made touch in the first half and that was crucial."

Fly half James Cathcart was Oxon's main kicking culprit and missed two relatively simple penalties in the first half.

But in the end, their opponents were simply the more solid and just about deserved their victory.

They were easily the toughest opposition Oxfordshire have faced this season and at one stage looked like recording a comfortable victory.

To their credit, Oxon never gave up and scored impressive tries through Newbury duo Kenny Bingham and Martin Nutt.

Brodley said: "We stayed in the game really well and I thought our defence at times was really good.

"They just seemed to be able to get that extra half a hard beyond the gain line, which put us a little bit on the back foot.

"The tries we got were excellent, but when you are living on scraps it is hard.

"We are delighted with our season, but just a little bit disappointed with this result."

Oxon captain Craig Burrows added: "I think we let ourselves down a bit by trying to run the ball out from our own half.

"We made mistakes when we were in good positions.

"I don't think they were that much stronger than us, but they were the strongest side we've faced this year.

"We didn't make a great start. We lost the ball too much in the first half and then we were always chasing the game."

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