Henley Wanderers made their debut in the competition a winning one when they overcame Oxford 17-9 at a far from dry Dry Leas on Sunday, writes David Charles.

Wanderers scored all their points in the opening 17 minutes of this second preliminary round tie.

Left winger Carl Robinson raced away to score two tries in the corner, the second of which Chris Darke converted. Then scrum half Tim Clements finished off a movement, which he himself started, to touch down an unconverted try.

Before half-time, former Oxford player Bill James, playing at No 8, burst away some 35 metres out only to be brought down a few centimetres from the line.

Oxford full back Tim Holdsworth replied with a penalty in the first half.

After the break, the lively Oxford back row negated Wanderers' superiority in the set scrums and winger David Engwell went close to scoring a try.

Oxford had to settle for two more Holdsworth penalties to complete their scoring. Wheatley went through to the next round when they beat Harwell 54-16.

Brian Pigott scored a brace of interception tries for Harwell in a tie which also counted as a Berks, Bucks & Oxon Division 2 game. Bob Humphreys slotted both Harwell conversions.

The draw for the first round proper will be made in the studios of BBC Radio Oxford at 5.30 tonight.