Oxford University slipped to a 50-0 defeat against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on Monday night, despite not playing that badly.

It was just that their strong opponents, who defeated Cambridge University 73-14 last week, were ruthlessly clinical.

Saints included England Saxons fly half Stephen Myler and No 8 Mark Easter, who both came off the bench at Perpignan in the Heineken Cup on Friday.

Prop Regardt Dreyer, hooker Brett Sharman, who were unused replacements against the French champions, also started alongside a number of first-teamers.

Northampton showed their class after just five minutes when Myler threw an excellent miss pass and wing Grant Pointer slid in on the left. Myler added the conversion.

Saints’ second try was a lightning counterattack after Oxford wing Chris Record lost the ball in the tackle in the home 22. Less than 30 seconds later, wing Paul Diggin was racing over on the right.

Myler was the architect of try No 3, which he converted, on 19 minutes when his delayed pass allowed full back Barry Everitt to motor in.

For all this, Oxford played with plenty of spirit and panache, but just were not able to break a disciplined defence.

Full back Will Browne showed plenty of energy, while their best chance came just before the break when centre Jules Allfrey snaffled a bouncing ball, but was stopped short.

A precise chip kick from Myler created a second try for Pointer on 42 minutes, Myler converting.

Some slick handling put in Easter on 50 minutes and Everitt converted.

Prop Jon Vickers scored next for Saints following a line-out.

Everitt converted this and a final try from replacement Christian Lewis-Pratt, who did well to ground the ball.

The Dark Blues had another period of pressure, with wing Tim Catling going close.

Northampton: Everitt, Diggin, Ansbro (Collins 58), Anderson, Pointer, Myler (Lewis-Pratt 49), Dickens (Brake 40), Dreyer (Johnson 40), Sharman (J Gray 40), Vickers, Cannon, Day (Giles 49), Ingle, S Gray, Easter (Barker 58).

Oxford Univ: Browne, Record (James 58), Allfrey (Boyes 75), Boyes (Klopper 62), Catling, Swanson (Record 68), Haydon, Lutton (Johnson 62), Rosen (capt) (Rogers 66), Johnson (Tomaszczyk 51), Outen, Guinness (Van Zyl 55), Makoto (Rickner 55), Cheeseman (Gibson 62), Davies.

Referee: R Debney.