Oxford Univ 32, Northampton 12

By MICHAEL KNOX IN a remarkable reversal of traditional roles, Oxford University's forwards destroyed a club side's pack to set up a convincing victory over Northampton at Iffley Road last night.

The convention in such games is that the club's powerful pack rules the roost, while the Varsity's backs try to live off scraps.

But the Dark Blues at last have a pack capable of dismantling senior opposition, which they did with an awesome display, highlighted by an astonishing try just after half-time.

Oxford were leading 15-12 at the time, when a maul formed on the Northampton ten-metre line. Such was the control, power and cohesion of the home pack, that they rolled Northampton back remorselessly towards their own line and they were all still together when scrum half Shaun Barry got the touchhdown.

It was a humiliating moment for Northampton's second string, who were never in the match again as the Blues followed up their 49-12 destruction of London Scottish with another super win.

From the first scrum, Oxford showed their superiority and they built up a 10-0 lead in the first 25 minutes. Nick Booth's penalty was followed by a try by American lock Adam Russell in a drive after Andy Roberts's line-out take.

Northampton fly half Andy Blyth took advantage of some poor Oxford tackling to a score a try down the blindside.

But another Roberts line-out catch and another drive saw Barry over for the first of his two tries, giving the Blues a 15-5 half-time advantage. More poor tackling let in Saints' hooker Steve Walter for a try under the posts for Blyth to convert just after the break.

However, following Barry's second try, Oxford took control.

Trying to run the ball from a deep position, Northampton lost possession. Blues' centre John Kinniburgh gathered the loose ball and fed left-winger Nick Humphries, who darted over for his third try in two games.

Oxford's final score came from another rolling maul - this time from only 25 metres! - with flanker Richard Heaslip being credited with the try that fly half Richard Governey converted.

If there was a disappointing aspect to Oxford's display, it was that their backs could not make more of showing. They tended to over elaborate, when quick sharp passing could have been more effective. So this side can only get better! Oxford coach Steve Hill was delighted with the performance. "I can't remember the last time we beat two club sides in a row; it was most pleasing," he said.

"The forwards are all playing for each other at the moment. We would like to have brought the backs into the game a little more. They had some good ball, but weren't able to use it."

Oxford Univ: R Woodfine, N Booth (K Shuman 56), N Ashley, J Kinniburgh, N Humphries, R Governey, S Barry, J Bothwell, B O'Connor, A Collins (A Reuben 56), A Roberts, A Russell, N Celliers, R Heaslip, M Challender.

Northampton: J Wilmer, B Cohen, M Tucker, A Northey (R Haddow 45), H Thorneycroft, A Blyth, D Malone, H Blowers (K Todd 52), S Walter, R Liddington, A Newman (M Birke 61), S Foale, J Chandler, C Allan (J Wright 61), S Hepher.

Referee: R Debney (Leics).

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