TROWBRIDGE head coach Dan Jeffries believes his side reached a significant psychological milestone as they broke their South West One East duck with a 23-13 triumph against Oxford Harlequins.

The Doric Park men built on the positive signs from their two most recent defeats, in which they claimed bonus points, to inflict only a second defeat in five games on the visitors on Saturday.

Tom Weaver exchanged penalties to get the scoreboard moving but Trowbridge seized control of the match as Karl Parry touched down for a converted try before Ollie Weaver did likewise as their side built up a 15-3 half-time advantage.

A further Weaver penalty arrived in the second period, but a converted try got Oxford back into it as the game entered its final stages.

However, home skipper Scott Williams led by example to touch down and wrap up the four points for Jeffries’ men.

“We were in control for all of the 80 minutes but coming into that last 15 minutes it was a slightly nervous time until Scott crossed for his try,’’ said Jeffries.

“It was good to get off the ground against a side that had won most of its games and to know we could finish it off was very pleasing and is key psychologically.’’

Jeffries added: “We’ve had a bit of a midfield crisis so we had our prop Lee Fairclough at centre.

“But Marcus Beer should be back after a HIA (head injury assessment) period so that makes the team look a lot more balanced.’’