RICHARD Bloomer helped get Oxford Saints’ tenure at Tilsley Park, Abingdon, off to a strong start with two touchdowns in a 36-12 win against Cornish Sharks.

Saints wasted no time in making themselves at home on the recently renovated 3G surface in their Division 2 Southern Football Conference West opener.

On their first drive, new quarterback Destin Maulding found Bloomer to run unchallenged into the end zone and Sam Fielden added the two-point score.

Sharks responded through Peter Carlin to make it 8-6, before Saints really took charge.

Maulding scored a touchdown before the end of the first quarter.

And Bloomer struck again, with Fielden kicking the extra point each time to send Saints in 22-6 ahead at half-time.

Linebacker Calvin Holmes made the game safe in the third quarter, Fielden again on target with the extra point.

Mark Womble scored for Sharks, but Saints had the final word when James Walter ran through.

Fielden completed a successful individual display with another point.

It was an excellent start to the season, but they will face a tougher examination against Conference favourites Bristol Apache in the next game, on April 24.