Oxford University 0, London Wasps 54

A LONDON Wasps side, featuring three full internationals, proved too strong for Oxford University in front of 1,800 supporters last night.

But this was no meek submission from the Dark Blues for whom prop Ollie Tomaszczyk and No 8 James Jones gave excellent dis- plays.

Wasps were captained by England flanker Joe Worsley, with Irish international Johnny O'Connor joining him in a fearsome back row.

Behind them at fly half was Dave Walder, a former Newcastle man with four England caps to his name, yet struggling for first-team action at Wasps.

Add to that mix wingers and a full back all possessing lightning pace, and the students were always going to play most of the game on the back foot.

It looked ominous when Wasps created a simple try for winger Neil Baxter, which Walder converted, after just three minutes.

Some intense home defence stemmed the tide for a time and Wasps even went down to 14 men when hooker Jonny Barrett was sin-binned on 17 minutes.

Oxford fly half Craig McMahon joined him in the cooler soon afterwards and in the blink of an eye it was 21-0.

First scrum half Mark McMillan sniped his way over, then centre James Brooks raced through after a cheap turnover in midfield. Walder converted both.

In between the tries, Tomaszczyk landed a memorable tackle that knocked Worsley back.

It took Oxford until the second half to gain a foothold in Wasps' 22, by which time they trailed 35-0.

On 35 minutes, a powerful rolling maul saw Barrett touch down and winger Chris Bishay finished a dynamic backs move in style just before the break.

Walder converted this and a second from Bishay after 46 minutes.

Oxford looked well-placed when centre Joe Roff broke into Wasps' 22 on 50 minutes.

But his off-load missed the target and before the hosts could regroup, full back Ed Thrower had burst clear and touched down his own chip kick.

Wasps managed only one more score, Bishay completing his hat-trick after 75 minutes, finishing a move Walder, who converted it, began on his own try line.

Oxford enjoyed plenty of possession close to Wasps' line, but couldn't force their way over.

Their best chance ended when lock Dylan Alexander spilled the ball after a tapped penalty.

Oxford director of rugby Steve Hill said: "The players will be disappointed with the score, but they should take heart from their performance. If we play with that intensity we are going to give the other sides we face tough tests."

Oxford University: Jacobs, Squires, Mahoney, Roff, Tombleson, McMahon, Haw, Tomaszczyk, Rosen (Barnett 77), Matthews, Graham (capt) (Chance 74), Alexander, Bucknall, Palm, Jones.

Wasps: Thrower, Baxter (Honeyben 63), Doherty (Barden 63), Brooks, Bishay, Walder, McMillan (Fury 63), McKenzie, Barrett (Webber 54), Adams (French 57), Purdy, Birkett (Corker 63), Skivington (Ellis 40), O'Connor (Webber 20-32), Worsley (capt) (Haskell 32, Filler 63).

Oxford man-of-the-match: Tomaszczyk.