26th January Farnham Match Report

29th January 2008

Herewith report from Oxford's match with Farnham Royal in Bucks, Berks & Oxon Premier on Saturday 26th January 2008:   Oxford continued their recent run of successes with an impressive 39-5 win at home to Farnham Royal in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier League. The team has been showing good form and consistency, and has now not lost since 3rd November 2007, three months ago.  Oxford started with a slope and tail wind in their favour and, as the ball went loose at an early Farnham lineout, Number 8 Mark Dickson burst through to kick on down the file to win the race for the touchdown. Adam Thompson added a penalty soon after to send Oxford on their way. Quick thinking by Jack Rudman saw him take a tap penalty in the Farnham 22 area and the ball sped along the backs for winger Alan Cameron to run over for a try in the corner, and Tom Olley sent a huge conversion through the posts from near the touchline. Oxford were scoring at regular intervals despite Farnham's dogged resistance and, following great interplay between the backs and forwards, Andy MacDonald burst away with a strong run for the third try. Finally, just before halftime, a long penalty kick from Oxford's Thompson found touch in five metres from Farnham's goal line and Mark Viner soared high for the catch and drive and Andy MacDonald touched down for his second trybe driven over for a try, giving his team a 25-0 half time lead. Oxford started the second period in similiar fashion, strong running and slick passing, and it was no surprise that winger Phil Longuet-Higgins extended the lead with a try that Olley converted while, on the other flank, Cameron ended a seventy metre outside run to score under the posts giving Olley an easy conversion. At 39-0 Oxford eased and Farnham came back down the slope to score a consolation try as their forwards drove over from close range. This latest win sees Oxford easily keep their top three place in the table but the next two games, against table toppers Chipping Norton, and second placed Bicester, will have a big bearing on whether Oxford can emerge as promotion candidates in April.