Oxford Hawks started their English League campaign on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Cambridge University at Banbury Road North thanks to a last-minute winner from Andrew Baggs on his first-team league debut.

The first half was a tight affair with neither side taking control of the game, and Hawks marginally the better side.

Cambridge broke through in the 46th minute after Hawks had been harshly penalised for breaking early for a third time at a short corner. Jamie Parker converted the penalty.

This setback sparked Hawks into action and they were the dominant team for the remainder of the game.

Their equaliser came in the 65th minute when an initial shot at goal rebounded to Gareth Parker, who finished well from close range.

As the game neared the end it was Hawks who looked the hungrier and the more likely to score.

In the last minute Hawks were awarded a short corner. Baggs flicked the ball over the head of the keeper who had little chance of saving it.

Hawks travel to newly-promoted Oxted next weekend.

In the South League's Middlesex, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional Division, City of Oxford's encouraging pre-season counted for nothing as they put in a disappointing performance to lose 3-0 at Reading against newly-promoted Sonning.

Rover Oxford opened with a 4-2 defeat at local rivals Banbury.

Rover started the brightest and dominated the early exchanges. Richard Beer converted the best of the chances they created by slamming home a rebound off the goalkeeper's pads.

However, that triggered a drop in concentration by the Rover players and they immediately sat back to allow Banbury back into the game.

Five minutes after going ahead Rover were behind, from a needless penalty corner and thenma solo effort

by Banbury's centre forward.

Banbury converted another penalty corner to move into a 3-1 lead.

Rover pulled one back through a Daniel Smyth, but Banbury added another in the second half.

Other scores - Premier Div 1: Spencer (Wandsworth) 2, Oxford Univ 2. Area Div 1: Bicester 2, L Buzzard 2. Other matches: Oxford Hawks 2nd 8, Canterbury 2nd 2; City 2nd 2 (R Harding, D Cowley), Slough 2nd 3; Rover Oxford 2nd 3 (J Rogers, M Oaks, M Willis); City 3rd 1 (S Honour), Mill Hill 3rd 3; Hawks 3A 2 (D Robins 2), Eastcote 3rd 0; Hawks Senators 4 (S Dawson 4), Purley Vets 1; Hawks Falcons 4, Amersham & Chalfont Vets 3.

Mercian U18 Boys League: City of Oxford 1 (S Toms), Oxford Hawks 4 (J Clark, T Roche, T Birks).