Oxford Bulls powered to their first ever victory as they thrashed the Peterborough Rink Rats 18-9 in a ice hockey friendly at Oxpens Road.

David WallingtonOxford signalled their intentions early on as player-manager David Wallington scored from defence after only 55 seconds with a high shot past the Peterborough keeper.

The Rink Rats kept the Bulls in check, however, and the scores were level at 3-3 by the end of the first period, with Marlon Williams and Mark Copping netting for Oxford.

Peterborough came out after the interval with all guns blazing, star forward Mike Collins scoring after only 20 seconds, before Copping grabbed his second to level the scores again.

Oxford's discipline let them down, and penalties, first to Paul Crockett and then Wallington, left the Bulls a man short for nearly four minutes.

Peterborough took advantage of two powerplays to score with ten minutes left in the second period.

But Oxford rallied, thanks mainly to Canadian Phil Sauve, who scored a six-minute hat-trick to add to further goals from Wallington and Paul Crockett, leaving Bulls 9-6 ahead going into the final session.

In the last period, Oxford started to dictate play, Wallington completing his first hat-trick, with further goals from Sauve, who added another two, Kevin Biggs (2), Thomas Penn (2), Crockett and James Schall. Oxford scorers: P Sauve 5+1, K Biggs 2+4, D Wallington 3+1, P Crockett 2+2, J Schall 1+2, T Penn 2+0, M Copping 2+0, A Hadden 0+2, M Williams 1+0, G Copping 0+1.