OXFORD University produced their best performance of the season to stun Leicester 18-17 in the fog at Iffley Road last night.

Hundreds of supporters had phoned in concerned the game might have been off due to poor visibility.

But those who came in their droves were treated to an inspiring comeback as Oxford showed great intensity to recover from 14-0 down.

A 76th-minute try from replacement hooker Winston Cowie, expertly converted from the left by fly half Craig McMahon, secured the Dark Blues' victory.

And it was no more than they deserved after putting the Tigers' defence under sustained pressure in the final quarter.

Oxford's all-round team display bodes well for their Twickenham date with Cambridge five weeks today as was the patience they showed in scoring their decisive try.

Chris Mahony looked sharp at full back, Joe Roff's ball skills stood out at outside centre, while No 8 James Jones led another excellent back row effort.

Oxford's defence was tested from the start and they held out until the 13th minute when Leicester winger Warren Coles just squeezed past Tom Tombleson to score in the corner.

Ian Humphreys slotted a tricky conversion and Tigers looked in control.

They could have been further ahead, but for some sloppy forward passes.

Leicester got it right, however, on 26 minutes when skipper Matt Cornwell fed full back Greig Tonks to cruise over and Humphreys converted.

Oxford had a series of close-range lineouts, but could not find a way through on the left wing.

They had more luck on the right when lock John Chance dived over from a catch and drive move.

McMahon's stoppage-time penalty made it 14-8 and Oxford began the second half on a roll.

Leicester were able to disrupt further catch and drives, but Oxford kept patient.

McMahon slotted a 40-metre penalty on the hour, but Humphreys replied in kind six minutes later.

Tigers saw No 8 Ben Pienaar and replacement Tom Croft both sin-binned as they defended desperately in the final ten minutes.

Cowie's try and McMahon's conversion were greeted by great roars and Oxford finished in the ascendancy.

Their director of rugby, Steve Hill, said: "That was a huge plus for us.

"We knew playing four Premiership sides in a row would be tough, so to get a win is excellent."

Oxford University: Mahony, Squires (Jacobs 53), Roff, Catling, Tombleson, McMahon, Jenkins, Tomaszczyk, Rosen (Cowie 56), Matthews, Chance, Alexander, Bucknall (Palm 56), Abbott (capt), Jones.

Leicester: Tonks, Coles, Smith, Cornwell (capt), Kendell, Humphreys, Murphy, Parr, Bray (Sammons), Cole, Nimmo, Herrington (Mundy 52), Keiserie, Abraham (Croft 52), Pienaar.

Oxford man-of-the-match: Jones.