OXFORD Universities cricketers will struggle this season if their massive opening 404-run defeat by Somerset at Taunton yesterday is a true guide.
The first-class county illustrated the massive gap in class by losing only six wickets in the whole match and bowling the students out twice with a largely second-line attack.
Set a daunting 479 to win, the combined Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities team crashed to 74 all out, the only resistance coming from wicket-keeper Richard Smalley who hit 37 off 53 balls.
The students' cause was not helped when Alan Gofton was unable to bat after being struck on the head by a return hit from Somerset captain Jamie Cox while bowling in the second innings.
Oxford rugby Blue Scott Weenink, who scored 72 not out in the first innings, made only two after being demoted to No 7.
Story date: Monday 10 April
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