A DYNAMIC final quarter gave Newbury a comfortable 39-16 victory over Oxford University at Monks Lane last night.

The students led 16-8 early in the second half, but that was as good as it got for the visitors.

Newbury, who like Oxford were far from full strength, hit top gear and attacked with a precision their opponents couldn't handle.

The final two of their six tries came from former Oxford Harlequin Martin Nutt and ex-Chinnor man Eric Brown.

The Dark Blues, who took Joe Roff and skipper Kevin Brennan off at half-time, showed some positive touches.

No 8 James Jones and centre Sam Humphrey-Baker looked their best two players, but their pack never really got to grips with the home eight.

Roff, playing in an unaccustomed fly half role, gave the University the lead with an 11th-minute penalty after an enterprising break from Humphrey-Baker.

Newbury clawed their way back with scrum half Mark Simpson-Daniel pinching plenty of yardage. Their pressure paid off when fly half Nick Defty slotted a simple penalty on 23 minutes.

Humphrey-Baker should have restored Oxford's lead three minutes later, but dropped the ball after being tackled on the try line.

Newbury lacked the fluency to get their backs across the line, but a solid catch and drive increased the lead on 36 minutes, flanker Simon Gully bagging the try they deserved.

A stoppage-time counter attack from University scrum half Brennan forced Newbury to infringe and Roff made no mistake with the penalty.

Roff's replacement, Mark Forth, was straight into the action and made it 9-8 with a 42nd-minute penalty.

There was better to come when Humphrey-Baker jinked his way over two minutes later and Forth converted.

Simpson-Daniel, brother of England international James, looked a class act when he dummied his way in for a try on 48 minutes.

Defty converted, but the Newbury rally was only just gathering momentum.

No 8 Luke Watts bagged a pushover score on 57 minutes and centre Gavin Turner had far too much space to exploit for try No 4. Defty converted this and the try of the match from Nutt, who finished a sweeping move.

Brown's score came from a wild Oxford pass.

Oxford University: (starting line-up): Gatlin, Hyatt, Record, Humphrey-Baker, Benger, Roff, Brennan (capt), Chambers, Cowie, Tomazscyzk, Chance, Wright, Hayden, Abbott, Jones.