Oxford University 26, Maj Stanley's XV 26

Major Stanley’s XV upset the odds to earn a creditable draw with Oxford University at Iffley Road.

The scratch side produced a display that belied their lack of practice together, with London Welsh full back Chris Elder the star man.

Elder has hardly featured for the Exiles this season, but on this evidence may be worth more time on the field.

In the end, the Dark Blues were left to rue a sloppy conversion attempt from Matt Janney, which Elder charged down, but Stanley’s deserved a share of the spoils.

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There was even time for Oxford captain Jacob Taylor to miss a late penalty, which would have clinched victory in an entertaining clash.

Oxford took less than two minutes to get on the scoreboard, with full back Taylor put into space for a simple run in from the edge of the 22 and centre Janney converting.

Stanley’s had plenty of territory after that, but their early efforts were stymied by a high error count.

However, when they did get the ball moving off the base of a scrum, wing Xavier Andre squeezed over in the opposite corner, with Elder’s conversion hitting the left post.

Home fans didn’t have long to wait before lock Tom Reeson-Price finished off a slick catch-and-drive move, with Janney converting.

Elder showed great footwork to score a solo try in reply, which he converted himself to make it 14-12 on 26 minutes.

The impressive Elder soon turned provider to set up Stanley’s wing James Copsey for try No 3, with the former converting from out wide.

Scrum half Sam Egerton dummied his way over from close range, but Elder charged down Janney’s conversion.

Oxford lost flanker Sam Peter to a shoulder injury as the half ended 19-19.

Egerton again showed his sharpness to dart through for a second try on 47 minutes after a dominant Oxford maul and this time Janney converted.

Stanley’s battled back well and their pressure paid off, with flanker Dave O’Brien forcing his way over just before the hour mark for Elder to convert.

A draw looked increasingly likely during the final quarter, although Egerton, who had returned to the fray at centre, made one decent run.

But the Dark Blues won a penalty in what appeared to be the final minute and Taylor went for goal, despite tradition perhaps dictating otherwise.

He somehow contrived to miss a fairly straight forward kick.

And soon afterwards, referee Mike Hudson blew for full-time.

Oxford University: J Taylor*, Strang (Hughes* 41), Janney* (Egerton* 33), Macdonald*, Lamont*, Cullen (Goodfellow 59), Egerton* (de Berker 66), Anderson*, Wisson*, Williams*, F Taylor (Mac-Gilchrist* 41), Reeson-Price*, Peter (Thomas 36, Weir 75), Jones* (Thomas 77), Messum. Reps not used: Quayle, Scaife, Western, Hilton-Stevens.

Major Stanley’s XV: Elder, Andre, Pierrepoint, Bromley-Martin, Copsey, Allen, Hoadley, Darkintis, Corradi, Aholelei, Vuaksinovic, Spivey, Browne, O’Brien, Bradley. Reps: Atkinson, Beckett, Direen, Brown, Karbouch, Liston, Carlisle, Moorby, Fisilau, Corrigan.

Referee: M Hudson

* Old Blues

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