Oxford University 40

(tries Hughes 2, Taylor 2, Coe, pen try; cons Hudson 3, Taylor 2)

Major Stanley’s XV 14

(tries Maddocks, Pangelinan; cons Cowley 2)

Oxford University ran out convincing winners in their traditional Varsity Match warm-up at Iffley Road yesterday.

Led by an impressive all-round display from Jacob Taylor, who started at full back and finished at fly half, the Dark Blues never looked in trouble after a lightning quick start.

But their display was not without errors against scratch opponents, who featured a smattering of USA and Russian internationals.

The students led 19-0 after just eight minutes.

Wing Henry Hughes and Taylor went over either side of a penalty try as Stanley’s collapsed a maul just short of the line. Fly half Jonathan Hudson converted two.

The basketball scoring and poor defending continued with Henley prop Dai Maddocks going over for Stanley’s, full back Joe Cowley converting.

Taylor bagged his second try after Oxford created a huge overlap on the left, and Hudson converted for 26-7.

The Dark Blues had wing Ed Doe sin-binned on 25 minutes, but controlled most of the territory.

However, more soft tackling allowed US international fly half Zach Pangelinan to ease through for a solo try, converted by Cowley.

Stanley’s replacement prop Simon Chadbone (Oxford Harlequins) was yellow-carded late in the half, but his side held out until the break.

Hughes also opened the scoring in the second half, wriggling through the defensive line for Taylor to convert.

The match had begun in the dry, but the rain lashed down in the second half, prompting more handling errors.

Oxford found it harder going, Hughes losing the ball as he tried to drive over for his hat-trick.

But a moment of class saw Taylor find Doe on the inside for a diving finish, Taylor’s conversion completing a comprehensive win.

LINE-UPS

Oxford University: Taylor, Hughes*, Lamont*, Janney* (Olivier 57), Doe, Hudson*# (Neil 41), Shorthose (Davidson 63), Anderson* (Wisson 63), Gardner* (Heathcote 63), H Macdonald* (Hannah 73), Rickner*, Reeson-Price (Patch 57), Z Macdonald, Harris* (capt) (MacGilchrist 55), Jones*.

Major Stanley’s XV: Cowley#, O’Lima, Damant, Mackey, Sager, Pangelinan#, Scherban#, Maddocks, Crozier, Penny, Roberts, Cullen#, Yakimovich#, Quill#, Smart. Reps: Chadbone, Corradi, Wright, Sheppeard, Newman, Bellinger, Sexton, Wicks, Rossiter, Katz, Eti-Slater, Wells.

* denotes Blue. # denotes international.

Man-of-the-match: Taylor.