Oxford Univ 31, Sale Sharks 31 Oxford University had to be content with an exciting draw at home to a Sale Sharks side who improved as the game progressed on Monday night.

Having led 24-0 and 31-10, the Dark Blues will be disappointed not to have won, but they produced some great moments to get the crowd going.

The chronic traffic problems around Oxford, which saw Sale arrive late, meant kick-off was delayed for 25 minutes.

And while Sale seemed to be mentally still on the bus, Oxford began with a bang as wing Tim Catling scored on five minutes after being set up by centre Alex Cheeseman.

It was all Dark Blues in the first quarter and therefore no surprise when the Australian scrum half sniped over from close range on 17 minutes, fly half Ross Swanson conv-erting.

Catling was adjudged to have been held up in the corner soon afterwards, but Sharks never cleared and Haydon’s clever pass gave the wing his second try when there was little room to work with.

Swanson converted for 19-0 before former Sale man, flanker John Carter, went close.

With irrepressible prop Ollie Tomaszczyk to the fore, Oxford’s scrum was dominant and this showed with a simple pushover try for No 8 Chris Davies on 29 minutes.

The students arguably deserved more than four tries for their enterprise, but were caught out by a slick line-out move that saw prop Lee Imiolek score and fly half Mark Atkinson convert just before half-time.

Sale had woken up by now and Atkinson slotted a penalty after Oxford started the second period sloppily.

The Dark Blues hit back with a clinical move that saw Swanson go over and convert for 31-10, but they could never consolidate their lead.

Sale scrum half Will Cliff supported well for their second try, which he converted.

Oxford lost some momentum as Carter and fellow flanker Stan McKeen were replaced.

Sale drew level with two tries in four minutes from flanker David Tait and Cliff, who converted both.

After losing the initiative, Oxford finished strongly, with Catling denied a hat-trick try by a foot in touch.

Swanson saw his drop-goal attempt on the final whistle of a compelling match go wide.

The Dark Blues’ attacking had progressed from the previous week against Saracens, but they still need to maintain greater intensity in defence.

Oxford University: Browne, Morris* (James 15-20 [blood]) (Mahony 63), Cheeseman*, Allfrey, Catling*, Swanson*, Haydon, Lutton*, Rosen* (capt) (Rogers 66), Tomaszczyk*, Kench* (Van Zyl* 71), Outen, Carter (Makoto 57), McKeen*# (Gibson 52), Davies*. * denotes Blue. # denotes international.

Referee: S Leynshon.

Man-of-the-match: Tomaszczyk.