Domino's Oxford Saints defenders not only kept a clean sheet but also contributed a pair of touchdowns in Saturday's 44-0 rout of Staffordshire Surge at Oxford RFC.

Oxford maintained their 100 per cent start to their British Senior League Division 2 campaign by notching up 30 points in the first half.

They scored on their first drive, with quarterback Wayne Mayers throwing a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Bagshaw. Steve Belcher added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The home defence continued to press, and it paid off when the Surge punter failed to gather the ball and Oxford defensive end Mark Wharton tackled him inside the end zone for a two-point safety.

Mayers then threw a ten-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Paul Woollard, Belcher's extra point kick giving the home side a 16-point advantage. The second quarter saw the Oxford defence turn on the style. Firstly, cornerback Henry Johnson, one of the Saints' two American airmen, intercepted a pass and sprinted 86 yards for a touchdown.

Then outside linebacker Richard Davies picked off a wayward pass and weaved his way past several tacklers on a 76-yard interception return. Belcher tacked on the extra points after both touchdowns.

The second half saw the Saints go off the boil but they were still able to notch up touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters through Belcher, who converted the extra points on both. As well as the interception return and the safety, the Oxford defence also recorded sacks from Paul Nippress and Wharton.

Saints' next game is on Sunday, May 28, when they host Plymouth Admirals.