Oxford University could take plenty of encouragement from a committed display as they went down 53-29 to a talented London Wasps side at Iffley Road on Monday night.

The Dark Blues conceded nine tries and started slowly, but by the end had contributed plenty of heart and skill to an entertaining clash.

Wasps featured Australian international centre Steve Kefu and England prop Jason Hobson.

But it was their young backs, Elliott Daly and Jacob Wilson who shone the most.

Wing Wilson, from Coke-thorpe School, Witney, bagged their opening try on five minutes after a long pass from fly half Seb Jewell.

His opposite number, Charlie Marr, soon replied with a penalty, but Wasps looked dangerous with every attack.

Scrum half Jonah Holmes grabbed a quickfire brace of tries, the first stemming from hooker Tom Lindsay’s interception, with centre Daly converting the latter.

Wasps led 29-3 after 27 minutes thanks to Wilson’s second try, converted by Daly, and a powerful solo effort from No 8 Joe Burton.

Oxford gave the large home crowd something to cheer on 33 minutes with a try from full back James Crozier, who slid in on the left after centre Sean Morris’s flick pass, Marr converting.

The Dark Blues had some parity for the remainder of the half, although they lost Morris to a leg injury.

Within a minute of the restart, flanker Will Matt-hews, who hails from Brize Norton, jinked inside to score for Wasps following Jewell’s cross kick.

Oxford captain Nick Haydon almost sniped over, but a wild pass allowed Daly to collect and race in from inside his own 22. Daly converted for 41-10 before being sin-binned.

Crozier wriggled through for his second try on 50 minutes, which Marr converted.

But Wasps hit back almost immediately when hooker Ant Brennan, who is on loan at Henley, drove over and fellow replacement Will Robinson converted.

Oxford stayed positive, and No 8 John Carter was denied a try due to a foot in touch.

But centre Alex Cheesman scored following Marr’s long pass, the latter converting.

Daly’s eventful evening continued when he finished a slick handling move to make the score 53-24.

Oxford ended on a high note with a great blindside move that saw Cheesman feed replacement Jez Mather, whose momentum allowed him to roll over the line.

Oxford University: Crozier (J Mather 72), Fenwick, Morris* (H Guinness 40), Cheesman*, Jones (Williams 69), Marr (McKinnell 75), Haydon* (capt), MacDonald (Anderson 59), Oliver, Kane (Grounds 75), Outen*, Greeff (Wright 41), Rowe (Connor 23 (Anderson 50-59 blood]), L Mather, Carter* (Wright [blood] 15-39).

London Wasps (starting XV): C Elder, Wilson, Daly, Kefu#, Hampson, Jewell, Holmes, Ruwers, Lindsay, Hobson#, Launchbury, Cannon, Matthews, Northcote-Green, Burton.

* denotes Blue. # denotes international.

Referee: T Davis.

Oxford man-of-the-match: Crozier.