Oxford Harlequins, embracing the risk-taking philosophy of new coach Matt Maudsley, ran in eight tries as they trounced Oxford in an entertaining Southern Counties North derby on Saturday.

Quins' Adam Rudd on the charge At this rate, Quins are going to take some stopping, because they weren't at their best against a spirited, committed Oxford side, who forced the visitors to make numerous handling errors.

But the pace of Quins game, allied to superb support play, meant they were able to create a host of opportunities.

Maudsley, who did not play because of a knee injury, admitted afterwards that there was plenty of room for improvement.

His opposite number, Stuart Hamilton, expressed himself delighted with Oxford's display. Despite losing No 8 Mark Viner with a dislocated shoulder after eight minutes, they kept going for 80 minutes in the heat.

Quins scored in the third minute, when scrum half Anthony Cope raced in unopposed under the posts from 20 minutes.

Despite losing the strikes against the head 3-1, Quins forwards achieved a dominance in the set-pieces.

Prop Paul Molyneux scored their second try following a line-out move and when No 8 Paul Nye touched down from a pushover try on the half hour, they were 21-0 up, fly-half Chris Penney having converted all three scores.

Skipper Dave Engwell replied with a penalty for Oxford, before super play by 18-year-old Quins full back Henry Pooler brought the first half to a rousing finale.

Coming into the line, Pooler gave a short pass and then looped outside to sprint in for a memorable try. Penney's conversion made it 28-3 at the break.

Further tries from flanker Jamie Cope and lock Rob Dow, following another searing break by Pooler, made it 40-3 midway through the second half.

But Oxford, with back row forward Andy MacDonald and new centre Sebastian Perkins enjoying good games, had two spells of pressure on the Quins line which brought them a deserved try through centre Dave Ralson, converted by Engwell.

Quins responded with a cohesive recycling and support play which brought a try for flanker Adam Rudd, before Penney showed great skill to catch his own kick-ahead and jink his way over the line for try No 8.

The fly-half's seventh conversion brought his personal tally to 19 points and completed the scoring.Oxford: MacLennan, Davies, Ralson, Perkins, Owen, Engwell, Hayden (Bagnall 64), Walter, Gray, Lowell, Curry, Lockwood, MacDonald, Allison, Viner (Shaikh 5).

Oxford Harlequins: H Pooler, Steve Chadbone, Swadling, Dobson, Browne (GD Jones HT, Maloney 76), Penney, A Cope, Molyneux (Simon Chadbone 49), Lawfull, Silversides, Price, Dow, Rudd, J Cope, Nye.

Referee: D Allen (Buckingham).