WILL Tuffley starred on his debut as Oxford Harlequins pulled off an impressive 31-18 victory at St Ives in South West 1.

The 20-year-old Australian full back scored 21 points in a fine display, although hooker Dave Needham was the hosts' man-of-the-match.

Quins' joy was offset by injuries to star centres Beau Wilson (ankle) and Andy Henley (shoulder), with the latter likely to be out for a month.

St Ives opened the scoring after four minutes with a Grant Thirlby penalty.

But Quins hit back a minute later when Tuffley intercepted on the home ten-metre line and raced in under the posts for a superb opportunist try.

Tuffley's conversion made it 7-3 and he stretched the lead with a long-range penalty.

Thirlby slotted a penalty on 16 minutes before Quins prop Simon Chadbone saw two bullocking runs stopped just short.

St Ives took the lead on 37 minutes with a try and conversion from Thirlby, but Tuffley's finely-judged penalty made it 13-3 on the stroke of half-time.

Wilson limped off then, with Henley joining him on the casualty list after 53 minutes. The second reshuffle saw replacement flanker Ali Halsall deputise on the wing.

Tuffley was on target with a difficult penalty in the 54th minute and again 20 minutes later after St Ives skipper Ian Boase was sin-binned.

Fly-half and captain Owen Gustafson dummied his way through a gap to feed Pete Davis who changed direction and gave Andy Noyce a pass to finish under the posts on 76 minutes.

Tuffley converted for 26-13 before replacement winger Elio Recchia rounded the full back to score try No 3 after good work from flanker Jamie Cope.

St Ives winger Luke Trescothick squeezed over the corner for the final score in the 84th minute.