OXFORD Saints ran in four touchdowns in the second half as they came from behind to win 43-24 against Cornish Sharks.

It saw them bounce back superbly from the 50-16 defeat at Swindon Storm in their previous game and improved their record in Southern Conference West Division 2 to three wins from four games.

The home side at Abingdon RFC got away to a good start, when a defensive error saw a Sharks player tackled in the endzone, gifting a 2-0 lead.

The lead was quickly eight points, when Sam Armstrong wrestled a Ben Denton pass out of defender Alex Bonner’s grasp.

Cornwall got on the board in real style, when Joseph Wolfenden-Brown charged in from 50 yards.

The extra point kick edged the visitors ahead, but Saints stormed back when Denton laid on another Armstrong touchdown.

Spencer Duffy kicked the extra point to give the hosts a 15-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Cornwall enjoyed the best of the game after the break.

The gap was trimmed to five points by a successful field goal and they went in front again thanks to a score from running back Shaun Griffin.

David Kriehn’s kick put them 17-15 in front at halftime.

But Saints have made a habit of staging comebacks in the second half of games – and they did so again.

An 88-yard drive was finished off by Ryan Kingshott, who injured himself in the process.

Rich Bloomer clung on for the two-point conversion.

Oxford Mail:

  • Oxford Saints’ James Walter charges, while a defender is on the receiving end  Picture: Gareth Brown

Sharks replied through Richard Howlett, who ran the length of the field to score.

Kriehn’s extra point made it 24-23 to Sharks, but from then on Saints controlled the game.

James Walter scored touchdowns at the end of the third quarter, where he added a two-point conversion, and at the start of the fourth.

It opened up a 37-24 lead and there was still time for one more score.

Veteran lineman Stuart Cribbes reacted quickest when the ball ran loose in the endzone to enthusiastically score the first touchdown of his 20-year career.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Torbay Trojans on Sunday.