The Wanderers schooled their student opponents on their trip to Oxford University as tries for Lewis Ludlam, Devante Onojaife, Nafi Tuitavake, Sion Bennett, Howard Packman and a hattrick for Tom Collins sees them put 50 unanswered points on the board.
Despite the hosts’ best efforts, Oxford University could not get past the Wanderers strong defence to get on the board. And with lots of fresh faces in the Wanderers side, the first of their two university friendlies gave the Wanderers the chance to stretch their legs in front of a packed out Iffley Road.
The Wanderers wasted no time at all and were two scores up before the ten-minute mark. Clever backs play off the back of huge efforts from the forwards sent Ludlam and Onojaife over.
Minutes later a huge solo run from Tom Collins saw the Wanderers collect their third and his first of three.
A break from Oxford’s Henry Hughes got the home side the closest they had been all game but the Wanderers soon regained possession and Olver chipped through for Tutiavake to collect. The centre collected the ball cleanly and dotted down just left of the posts. Olver sent the conversion through to take the score to 24-0 in the Wanderers’ favour as the half time whistle blew.
The visitors were firing from the get-go and after Collins collected Olver’s restarting kick a cleverly worked move saw Sion Bennett get over for the Wanderers’ fifth.
Oxford spent some time with the ball in hand but could not break through the Wanderers’ line. Packman found himself with the ball and covered nearly half the pitch before the ball was whipped out to the other wing for Collins to collect his second.
The forwards set up the Wanderers next score. Bennett put in another good leg drive and offloaded to Onojaife who made even more ground. Packman got himself in the right spot once again and this time got over in the corner.
The Wanderers’ final score and Collins’ hattrick came on the 75 minute mark. The speedy winger chipped the ball forwards to chase himself and out-paced his counterpart and got a hand to the ball just before it went dead. James Grayson added the extras to end the scoring.
The home side put in their most impressive attack in an attempt to get some points on the board before the final whistle but found themselves held up over the line as the clock ran down.
TIMELINE
4mins WANDIES Try Ludlam 0-5
9mins WANDIES Try J Onojaife Con Olver 0-12
30mins WANDIES Try Collins 0-17
37mins WANDIES Try Tuitavake 0-24 Con Olver
HALF-TIME Oxford 0 Wanderers 24
40mins WANDIES Try Bennett Con Olver 0-31
49mins WANDIES Try Collins Con Olver 0-38
59mins WANDIES Try Packman 0-43
75mins WANDIES Try Collins Con Grayson 0-50
FULL TIME Oxford 0 Wanderers 50
TEAMS
OXFORD Geiger; Barley, Hughes, Hogg, Stileman, Strang, De Berker; Ball, Thornton, Lu, Taylor (capt), Grant, Marsden, Blomfield, Beaufils
Subs – Miller, Scaife, Anderson, Henry, Adams, McPherson, Kershaw, McGagh, Dyer
WANDERERS Furbanks; Packman, Tuitavake, Estelles, Collins, Olver, Kessell; Waller, Marshall, Denman, J Onojaife, Moon, Bennett, Ludlam, D Onojaife
Subs – Fish, Trinder, Beesley, Painter, Brown, Rayment, Emery, Grayson, Strachan, Green
