Two late tries capped a battling display from Oxford University in their final pre-Varsity Match fixture as they lost 26-15 against Northampton at Iffley Road last night.

The Dark Blues had spent much of the second half being thwarted by Northampton Saints’ excellent defence.

But a moment of magic from lock Ian Kench, who weaved his way through for an astonishing solo try, finally pierced the visitors’ rearguard on 79 minutes.

Wing Sean Morris added a second try in stoppage time that gave Oxford a slightly flattering scoreline, but this character-filled performance lea-ves them in good shape ahead of next Thursday’s Twickenham clash.

Northampton, who sit top of the Guinness A League, scored on five minutes when centre Nick Greenhalgh latched onto Barry Everitt’s cross kick to touch down.

Fly half Everitt converted and did the same five minutes later after prop Ben Broster piled through the middle to score from a line-out move.

The Dark Blues gradually clawed their way back before centre Tom Gregory kicked a penalty on 23 minutes.

Full back Tim Catling made a useful break from defence, but was impeded as he chased his kick through.

Northampton No 8 Ben Lewitt piled over in stoppage time for Everitt to convert.

Oxford failed to capitalise on a series of second-half penalties after Saints’ prop Regardt Dreyer had been sin-binned.

Fly half Ross Swanson broke superbly from defence, but again Oxford’s attack came to nothing.

Quick hands allowed flanker Owen Giles a try for Nort-hampton on the hour mark.

Oxford dominated the final quarter with replacements Chris Mahony and Will Johnson, plus hooker Anton Oliver having half chances.

Kench’s try came following an advantage from referee Richard Phillips after an apparent Oxford knock on.

But his skill and pace had the crowd applauding and he even had the audacity to use Morris as a dummy runner!

Morris’s try, which was created by Mahony, wasn’t bad either and Toby Henry’s conversion proved the final of an entertaining match.

Oxford University: Catling (Mahony 50), Morris, Burnett, Gregory (Cheeseman 53), Browne, Swanson (McKerchar 53), Henry, Lutton (Johnson 53), Oliver, Thompson, Kench, Payne (Van Zyl 69), McKeen, Clarke (capt), Wright (Davies 40). Man-of-the-match: Kench.