Oxford University pushed Portugal hard before going down to a 24-18 defeat in Lisbon on Saturday.

The students played with plenty of style and scored two tries against opponents who are vying to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.

Openside flanker Alex Cheesman and No 8 Mike Rickner, with a pushover effort, bagged Oxford’s tries, with fly half Ross Swanson adding a conversion and two penalties.

Indeed, it would have been even closer had Swanson not missed a straight-forward penalty late on.

Lock Sebastião Cunha and full back António Aguilar scored tries for Portugal, with fly half Pedro Cabral kicking four penalties and a conversion.

Steve Hill, the Dark Blues’ director of rugby, said: “We played a lot of rugby, but sometimes a bit too much.

“They played more conservatively and that probably helped them.

“Considering that is our first game since the Varsity Match, I’m very pleased.

“We also used a squad of 24 with nine substitutions, so that disrupted things a bit.

“With a little bit more precision, we could have won the game.

“Portugal were pleased with it and want this to become a regular fixture.”