Oxford University pushed Saracens all the way with a stirring display before going down to a 39-28 defeat at Iffley Road on Monday night.

It was only a strong finish that denied the students, who led until the 74th minute.

Wing Tim Catling caught the eye with a brace of tries, while scrum half Nick Haydon was named man of the match after a superb display – especially considering his opposite number was Fijian captain Moses Rauluni.

It was to the hosts’ credit that it took the introduction of rising star Alex Goode to bring Saracens to the boil.

Saracens opened the scoring on four minutes when full back Sam Stanley found himself in acres of space to cruise in on the right.

Fly half Owen Farrell added a penalty soon afterwards.

Oxford fought their way back into the game and it was no surprise when their first try came on 17 minutes.

The students battered Saracens’ line before Haydon dummied his way over and fly half Ross Swanson converted.

Oxford took the lead on the half hour when centre Alex Cheeseman broke a tackle and off-loaded for supporting full back Will Browne to score.

Swanson converted this and a scintillating third try from Catling, who hit the line at pace and roared in under the posts.

Farrell slotted a penalty just before the break.

The visitors reduced the deficit on 51 minutes when No 8 Jackson Wray was driven over, Farrell converting.

Oxford had the rub of the green for their fourth try.

Swanson's chip kick took a sideways bounce when it looked like being easily collected, which enabled the alert Catling to sprint in.

The conversion was good from Swanson, but the Dark Blues couldn't hold out.

A powerful line-out move saw replacement Hayden Smith driven over in the corner and Farrell converted to make it 28-25 to the Blues.

Pacy wing James Short gave Saracens the lead with a close-range finish on 74 minutes, then two minutes later replacement scrum half Luke Baldwin touched down, with Farrell converting both.

Oxford University: Browne, Morris* (James 63), Cheeseman*, Allfrey, Catling*, Swanson*, Haydon, Lutton*, Rosen* (capt), Tomaszczyk* (Johnson# 40), Kench* (Outen 63), Van Zyl*, Carter (Makoto 53), Gibson (McKeen*# 58), Davies*. * denotes Blue. # denotes international

Saracens: Stanley, Hearn, Staff (Goode 53), Casson, Short, Farrell, Rauluni# (Baldwin 53), Lealamanua (Mercey 67), George (capt) (Hughes 58), Brown (Tawera 58), Kruis, Spencer (Smith 40), Barrell, Daynes, Wray.