Oxfordshire beat Cheshire 38-37 thanks to an Owen Wildgoose score and a James Miller conversion with the clock in the red to win the Bill Beaumont Division 2 county final.

At half-time, it seemed like the game was won by Cheshire, but a spirited Oxfordshire comeback stole the game in the final moments.

Cheshire dominated the early proceedings after scores from captain Oliver Longmore, Thomas Cole and Ben Elliot as well as a penalty try, and went into the break 27-3 ahead.

Cheshire also had a numerical advantage due to yellow cards for Oxfordshire’s Finn Ayris and James Leonardi.

Despite only having 13 men on the pitch, Oxfordshire started the second half with a bang. Ollie Nicholl booted a turnover down the pitch and full back Quinten Blythe controlled the ball with his boot and won a foot race to dot down. The score was converted to make the score 27-10.

(Image: RFU)

As the rain began to pour, Cheshire scored their fifth try of the day through substitute Harry Blackwell to make it 34-10 and seemingly put the game and trophy beyond reach. 

But Oxfordshire’s comeback started in earnest in the final 20 minutes of the game. Wildgoose took a cross-field kick spectacularly before Blythe showed incredible strength to score Oxfordshire’s second try.

Then, Connor Pummery wrestled over from close range and Miller added the extras to make the score 37-24 in the final five minutes.

Minutes later, with Cheshire’s Harry Hughes in the sin bin, an inside ball put Pummery in for his second. With the conversion added, Oxfordshire were within seven points with less than a minute left.

Then, with the clock in the red, Oxfordshire won a penalty to get a lineout in the Cheshire half. The ball made its way through the backs into Wildgoose’s hands who beat three defenders to score. Cool as ice, Miller made the conversion to crown his team Bill Beaumont Division 2 winners.

Even Oxfordshire head of selection, Gareth Davies, was shocked by the comeback his side pulled off.

He said: “Funnily enough, I was speaking to one of the supporters midway through the second half, saying we’d come here and shown a good account of ourselves but just come up short today. Then lo and behold, the game turned on its head.

“The boys who played today have an attitude where they never give in. Anyone who watched today would have seen that these boys will back each other up to the end and that’s exactly what they did today.

“I’m super proud of everyone involved, especially the players. What a way to win a game.”

To see all the results from the County Championship Finals visit EnglandRugby.com or follow @RFU on X to see all the in-play highlights.