Durham's two previous encounters against Oxfordshire had both resulted in close finishes.
Saturday's County Championship Plate Semi-Finals, played at Darlington RFC's ground, was no different where in a hard fought game, the lead changed several times.
After some initial exchanges Durham took an early lead when, after 9 minutes, centre Astle went over to open the scoring. Dixon failed to convert.
Immediately from the restart Oxfordshire looked more purposeful and moved into Durham's territory, testing their defence. It was not long before there pressure was rewarded through a try by winger Sayce. Cathcart adding the extra points from wide out.
The visitors' had a useful side who were determined to play the game in their opponents half, which resulted in their second try on 21 minutes when full back Hew Jones crossed the line, Cathcart's boot converting.
Durham got their heads down and grafted hard and after 25 minutes were awarded a penalty which was kicked by Iain Dixon, their full back.
Durham's forward superiority in the set pieces was starting to become evident and their dominance in the scrummage was match by an solid performance in the line-out, winning their own, and much of Oxfordshire's ball throughout the game. This led to Durham's second try on the stroke of half time when a poor tap back by Oxforshire at a lineout 5 metres from their own line, allowed Eggleshaw the Durham Number 8 to pounce on the loose ball and power his way over. An excellent conversion by Dixon ensured that Durham were ahead at the break by 15pts to 14 pts.
Durham's fly half Matthew Gupta who had injured an ankle towards the end of the first half was replaced soon after the restart by Billingham's Peter Evans, who last week played on the wing, who slotted into the position with ease.
The visitors were in no mood to surrender and they quickly responded after the break when they scored their third try, 5 minutes in the second half, when a long pass in the centre of the field was intercepted by winger Nick Sevier, using skills that would perhaps be more at home on a soccer pitch before gathering and completing the 35 metre dash to the line. Cathcart converted.
Their hooker and captain Andrew Dixon rallied his men who stepped up their work rate and after some sustained pressure and strong running, center James Fitzpatrick released Peter Evans to score near the posts. Converting his own try Evans ensure Durham regained a slender 22pts to 21pts lead.
Three minutes later Durham extended their lead when a break by Astle allowed Durham's terrier-like scrum half, Martin Lithgo to add Durham's fourth try, again converted by Evans.
Oxfordshire's heads did not drop and they showed they were not going to accept defeat without a fight threatening to score on several occasions before replacement Parkes eventually did cross wide out on the right to set up a tense 8 minutes for the players and spectators.
However Durham were equally determined and Durham's No. 8 capped a fine performance ending the second half like he did the first half with a try in the corner. Evans fail to add the extra points, but it did not matter as the 8 point cushion was enough to see Durham play out the game as victors by 34 - 26.
In next week's final, again to be played at Darlington RFC, Durham will play Kent who beat Essex by 30 points to 14 in the other semi-final. The last time these two met was on the 21st January 1989 at Blackheath in the then Toshiba County Championship Semi-Final which Durham won by 10 - 6.with a try by John Dixon of West Hartlepool and two penalties by the captain Durham City's Jonathan Bland. Durham had future England international Philip de Glanville at outside centre, whilst Kent had ex Blaydon back row player Mick Skinner, who also earned international honours at blind side flanker.
