Oxford University 8, University of Queensland 25

OXFORD University’s first home game of the season ended in a disappointing defeat last night.

They struggled to mount any sustained pressure and were deservedly beaten by their Australian visitors.

To make matters worse, the Dark Blues had lock Tom Evans stretchered off with a neck injury just after the hour.

Queensland, who are on their centenary tour, included former Oxford Harlequins player and Cumnor cricketer Will Tuffley at full back.

Oxford went close through loose-head prop Hamish Macdonald after a driving maul.

But Queensland broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when fly half Tom Tuffley flew through a gap generated by some good forward work, his brother Will converting.

Six minutes later, Oxford’s desire to run the ball out from their own line backfired as a loose pass allowed centre Ryan Gilliman to hack through and touch down.

Oxford centre Harry Guinness sent a penalty narrowly wide just before the break, but they had it all to do.

Will Tuffley added a penalty soon after the resumption, but Guinness replied in kind.

Queensland’s kicker missed a further penalty, but his side gained a big advantage after Dark Blues’ lively fly half Tom Mitchell and captain John Carter were yellow-carded in the space of five minutes.

Will Tuffley slotted a penalty for Carter’s offence at the restart following Evans’s injury.

It was briefly 14 against 13 when Queensland replacement Sam Beckett was sin-binned for an illegal tackle.

Oxford did rally, with replacement hooker Derek Asbun making a fine break, but they lacked fluency.

That was in contrast to the visitors, who fashioned a slick try for the fast finishing Gilliman, Will Tuffley converting.

Replacement prop Jon Direen forced his way over for the Dark Blues late on, but they were well beaten.

Oxford University: J Mather* (Janney 55), Morris*, Perkins, H Guinness*, Bramham-Law (Jones* 41), Mitchell, Egerton (O’Donovan 62), Macdonald* (Direen 55), Oliver* (Asbun 55), Kane* (Anderson* 52), Outen*, Evans* (Fell 62), Durward, L Mather*, Carter* (capt). * Denotes Blue.

Referee: M Cooper (RFU).