HEAD coach Craig Burrows believes Oxfordshire’s County Championship Shield campaign should still be viewed as a success despite their failure to reach the knockout stages.

A 39-6 defeat to Leicestershire at Chipping Norton on Saturday saw Oxon miss out on topping Pool 1 and secure a place in the semi-finals.

That left them hoping their ten points from victories over Berkshire and Buckinghamshire would be enough to earn them the final spot as the best second-placed side.

However, Essex advanced with 11 after a 48-15 win over Middlesex.

Despite falling short of replicating last year’s semi-final showing, Burrows was heartened that Oxon’s only defeat came against a Leicestershire team he believes is the best in the competition.

He said: “Last year we lost to Surrey and if we lose against the team that wins it again then we benchmark ourselves against that.”

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Eighteen of Leicestershire’s 22-man squad play in the fifth tier of rugby – a level only relegated Oxford Harlequins competed at this season.

While Berkshire’s squad painted a familiar picture, they were a disjointed outfit compared to the powerful and well-drilled Leicestershire side that dominated at Chipping Norton.

This year’s Oxon team was made up of players from Quins and sixth tier sides Witney and Grove as well as Banbury and Bicester who play in the seventh.

Francois Wiese, Jack Horwood (both Bicester) and Seamus O’Dwyer (Banbury) were among those added to an established squad.

And Burrows is hoping his side can continue the team ethos that served them so well this year.

He added: “It has been successful in the way the new players have come in and we just have to hope again that everyone has enjoyed themselves and made a good account of themselves.

“Hopefully, there will be a couple of players come in for next year again and we can see where we’re at and that is what county rugby is about.

“We want to build year on year, but you look to the sides who are drawing from level five and they are going to be the favourites and we saw that.

“That gulf was just too big to bridge.”