A strong Northampton side overpowered Oxford University 50-19 at Iffley Road last night with a thoroughly committed performance.

With hooker Dylan Hartley returning after a six-month ban for eye gouging, Saints were clearly up for it from the start - and led 21-0 in as many minutes.

Oxford stemmed the tide for a time, but the visitors, inspired by pacey full back Will Harries, always seemed to have another gear.

Flanker Ben Lewitt, Harries and 17-year-old centre Grant Anderson bagged Northampton's early tries with scrum half Jonny Howard converting all three.

Oxford were largely on the back foot and didn't help themselves by losing a series of close-range lineouts.

They had more success in the scrum and quick ball allowed wing Tom Gregory to stretch over on 35 minutes.

Saints began the second half with a pushover try for Tongan international prop Soane Tonga'uiha.

Anderson completed a brace on 53 minutes with Tonga'uiha doing the same soon afterwards and David Smith converting.

Replacement hooker Joe Gray and lock Karl Rudski ran in tries that owed much to poor Oxford tackling, Smith converting the latter.

But the Dark Blues ended positively either side of Rudski's effort.

Craig McMahon finished and converted a try made by No 8 Peter Wright and was on target again when full back Tim Catling sneaked over on the right.

Oxford University: Catling, Boto, Sadden (Allfrey 40), Roff (capt), Gregory, McMahon, McKerchar (Henry 61), Allhusen (Davis 54), Rosen (Cowie 50), Matthews (Tomaszczyk 54), Davies, Payne, Ackroyd (Healy 68), Clarke (Fenlon 23), Wright.

Northampton: Harries, Rainbow, Clarke (Davies 54), Anderson, Smith, Hoyles, Howard (Brake 26, Peck 70), Tonga'uiha (Purbrook 70), Hartley (Gray 58), Budgen (Emms 46), Rudski, Lord (capt) (Hoy 60), Lawes, Lewitt (Vickers 70), Ward.