Oxford Univ 29, London Irish 18

OXFORD University secured their first domestic win of the season with a convincing performance at Iffley Road last night, writes MICHAEL KNOX.

After three narrow defeats, this was a welcome boost for the Dark Blues, but they will rue conceding two late tries which gave London Irish a flattering scoreline.

The students were leading 29-6, which was a true reflection of their superiority until a plethora of late unnecessary substitutions disrupted the side and left them feeling rather flat at the end.

A convincing display by the pack, who disrupted the Irish scrum with wheeling tactics, and some outstanding work in the loose by Simon Miall and Jason Bolger provided plentiful supply of ball.

So, it was disappointing that they scored only two tries - and both of these came from forwards.

However, the crowd were entertained by some superb runs from pacy and elusive full back Will Rubie, who helped set up a try.

The Blues led 10-3 at half-time, with their try coming from lock Adam Russell who powered in under the posts following previous thrusts from Henry Nwume and Bolger.

Seb FitzGerald added the con- version to a previous penalty, while fly half Matt Cannon kicked as penalty for the Irish. Their only threat outside the scrum had come from first-team centre Geoff Appleford.

Blues, who had Nwume sin-binned for obstructiing Irish's attempt to take a quick penalty, pulled away in the third quarter.

FitzGerald kicked a second penalty and then sent Rubie clear with a neat reverse pass. The full back's jinking run was halted under the posts.

But replacement Charlie Edwards, who had been on the field for only 60 seconds, was in support to score under the posts.

FitzGerald landed the conversion and three more penalties, as Oxford eschewed short penalties and concentrated on building a big confidence-building victory.

So it was surprising that the Blues undid much of that good work by making so many changes which enabled the Irish to score late tries through their Natal scrum half Henti Martens and replacement winger Nnamdi Ezulike.

Cannon added one conversion to his second-half penalty to allow the visitors to achieve respectability.

**Oxford Univ: Rubie, Hopcroft (Thompson 57), Robinson, Adlen, Ellerby, FitzGerald (Fuchigami 75), Taberner (Scholes 72), Tkachuk, Nicholas (Brooks 73), Nwume (Hughes 66), Miall, Russell (Edwards 52), Sherriff, Bolger (Hallett 77), Hallett (Hughes 37-47, Gemmell 49).

London Irish: Piper, Hunt, Appleford, McClelland (Sullivan 70), Drake (Ezulike 45), Cannon, Martens, Wallis, Flavin, Allen (Walsh 45), Kennedy, Park, Docherty (Price 56), Starling, Lake.

Referee: J Minards (N Midlands).