Oxford University did just enough to beat scratch opponents Major Stanley's XV 21-14 in a scrappy clash at Iffley Road on Wednesday.

The Dark Blues recovered from 14-7 down to seal victory with a try from full back James Crozier, but this was hardly the sort of display to strike fear into Cambridge hearts ahead of next month’s Varsity Match.

Stanley’s featured former England lock Garath Archer, who won a lot of line-out ball and caused plenty of problems with their driving mauls, especially in the first half.

The wet and windy conditions did not make for running rugby and there were far more handling errors than mom-ents of genuine skill.

Oxford struggled to adapt their game plan to the conditions, regularly spilling the ball as they attempted to move it through the backs.

Knock-ons and wasted possession characterised the early play, but Oxford had most of the territory and debutant centre Andy Sprague made his mark with a powerful tackle on the chase.

The Dark Blues managed to put a couple of phases together on 18 minutes and created a well-worked try for flanker Alex Rowe on the right.

Fly half Charlie Marr converted, but his side did not press on.

The Dark Blues lost influential centre Alex Cheesman to a shoulder injury, while Stanley’s put together seven minutes of real pressure before scoring.

Former Oxford No 8 Mike Rickner had already wasted a pushover try chance by knocking on, but he peeled off a maul to power over on 37 minutes.

Fly half Adam Phillips converted and his side should have led at the break after centre Tom Mitchell carved his way through, but Henley wing Pete Davies could not take the scoring pass.

Stanley’s replacement Duncan Traynor went close with his first touch after half-time and his side took the lead with a superb breakaway try.

Oxford looked to work a move from a scrum ten metres from the Stanley’s line, but as it broke down the visitors roared out of defence.

England Sevens wing David Smith received the ball on halfway and scorched away to score, Phillips converting.

An embarrassing defeat was now on the cards for Oxford, but they battled back.

Prop Will Kane was repelled from close range, then Stanley’s centre Josh Heke was sin-binned as the Dark Blues pressed for try No 2.

It soon came as lock Karl Outen scored from close range on 54 minutes, Marr’s conversion making it 14-14.

Rickner again fumbled a pushover try attempt, but the final quarter was all Oxford.

Wing Luke Jones had a couple of pacy runs before fellow replacement Harry Guinness made a decisive break through the middle on 71 minutes.

Oxford’s best move of the match ensued, with sub Tom Yusef off-loading for Crozier to finish at pace, before converting his own try.

Stanley’s never looked like coming back from this, but they were certainly not outplayed.

Oxford University: Crozier, Fenwick (Jones 41), Sprague (H Guinness 64), Cheesman* (Yusef 28), J Mather, Marr (H Williams 68), Haydon* (capt), Macdonald (Anderson 74), Connor (Oliver 53), Kane, Durwood (Evans 41), Outen* (D Guinness 64), Rowe (Swan 48), L Mather, McKeen*#.

Major Stanley’s XV: Mahony* (Allen 53), Pe Davies (Traynor 41), Mitchell (Clark 53), Heke, Smith, Phillips, McKerchar*, Blacklock (Gentilli 53), Ross (Ritchie 53), Baird (Matthews* 41), Archer# (G Davies 53), C Davies* (Jenkins* 53), Ph Davies (cpt), da Cunha#, Rickner (Dapel 67).

* denotes Blue. # denotes international.

Referee: N Cockburn.

Man-of-the-match: McKeen.