Never mind a game of two halves, the first 40 minutes at Iffley Road was a game of two quarters.
In the first 20 minutes the Wanderers, with several players – notably Dylan Hartley and Johnny Howard – looking to get rapidly back into the swing of playing, went about their work with speed and efficiency.
They were rewarded by three tries for Ben Lewitt, Will Harries and Grant Anderson, all converted by Howard. The attacking threat was coming from all areas of the team and David Smith and Courtney Lawes, as well as Hartley and Harries, all contributed to at least one try.
However a succession of turnovers and penalties handed the initiative back to Oxford in the second quarter. World Cup winner Joe Roff was becoming increasingly influential and his kicking from hand repeatedly pinned the Wanderers back.
But for some great defensive lineout work from Lawes, skipper Matt Lord and Dave Ward, and a timely Lewitt interception, the students would probably have scored a lot earlier than they did. The try came in the 35th minute from Tom Gregory, who scythed off his wing to go over from a five-metre scrum.
Craig McMahon failed to even complete his run-up as the ball fell off its tee. However his clever bomb could have led to a second Oxford try but for a good Harries catch that ended the half with the Wanderers leading 21-5.
The fourth Wanderers try that steadied the ship five minutes into the second half came from the forwards. This time it was the home side that offended to concede a lineout five metres out. Unlike the three Oxford attempts in the first half this was secured by Lord and driven over the line for Soane Tonga’uiha to score.
The big prop grabbed a second from close range just before the hour. His scores sandwiched a well taken try from Anderson that he made with a lovely slip out of a tackle. Smith added the extras to Tonga’uiha’s second effort and with a quarter remaining the Wanderers lead was a healthy 33 points.
This was extended by the evening’s most spectacular try in the 66th minute. John Brake’s break from deep had the Oxford defence scrambling. And though the students recovered Brake’s kick ahead Joe Gray charged down the clearance and scored.
This took the score to 43-5 which became 43-12 with 10 minutes to go. A Wanderers defensive scrum was won against the head, Peter Wright broke from the base and McMahon dived over. He also converted but was powerless to stop the Wanderers’ next score.
Harries made the initial break to set it up and good handling from Barney Purbrook and Jon Vickers took play into the Oxford 22. And not even Roff could stop the rampaging Karl Ruzdki on his way to the line. Smith converted to bring up the 50.
Tim Catling grabbed a consolation try for Oxford but for the Wanderers this was a job well done.
Teams:
Oxford University – Catling; Gregory, Sadden (Allfrey 40mins), Roff (capt), Boto; McMahon, McKerchar (Henry 61mins); Allhusen (Davis 54mins), Rosen (Cowie 50mins), Matthews (Tomasczyck 54mins), Davies, Payne, Ackroyd (Healy 68mins), Clarke (Fenlon 23mins), Wright.
Wanderers – Harries; Rainbow, Clarke (Davies 54mins), Anderson, Smith; Hoyles, Howard (Brake 26mins (Peck 70mins)); Tonga’uiha (Purbrook 70mins), Hartley (Gray 58mins), Budgen (Emms 46mins), Rudzki, Lord (capt)(Hoy 60mins), Lawes, Lewitt (Vickers 70mins), Ward.
Scorers:
Oxford University – Tries: Gregory, McMahon, Catling; Cons: McMahon (2).
Wanderers – Tries: Lewitt, Harries, Anderson (2), Tonga’uiha (2), Gray, Rudzki; Cons: Howard (3), Smith (2).
TIMELINE:
8mins WAND Try Lewitt Con Howard 0-7
11mins WAND Try Harries Con Howard 0-14
18mins WAND Try Anderson Con Howard 0-21
35mins OXFORD Try Gregory 5-21
HALF-TIME OXFORD UNI 5 WANDERERS 21
45mins WAND Try Tonga’uiha 5-26
53mins WAND Try Anderson 5-31
59mins WAND Try Tonga’uiha Con Smith 5-38
66mins WAND Try Gray 5-43
70mins OXFORD Try McMahon Con McMahon 12-43
73mins WAND Try Rudzki Con Smith 12-50
81mins OXFORD Try Catling Con McMahon 19-50
FULL-TIME OXFORD UNI 19 WANDERERS 50
