The Blues opened their 2012/13 season with a disappointing loss away at Durham University. Taking nothing away from a strong Durham teams who thoroughly deserved their win, the Oxford squad will need to take a hard look at themselves with much sterner challenges to come. This was a very young Blues side with four Freshman in the starting XV, all still just 18 years of age and despite some experienced heads in the pack, they were outplayed in most aspects of the game. The only upside was that fitness levels looked good with the visitors finishing the stronger – a testament to the hard work put in during preseason under the guidance of S & C Coach Sean Morris. Centre Will Boardman scored the  Blues only try with a penalty apiece from Jonathan Hudson and Matt Shorthose. A much changed side will nor travel to Moseley next Wednesday looking for a big improvement in performance.

Team Hamish Macdonald, Anthony Connor, Bob Baker, William Fell, Jason Law, Gus Jones, James Harris, Alex Waddingham, Sam Egerton, Jon Hudson, Hee-Won Cho, Will Boardman, Oscar Vallance, Alastair Adams-Cairns, Henry Lamont

Subs Michael Rickner (on for Jason Law), Stuart Greeff (on for William Fell), Dugald Macdonald (on for Gus Jones), Matthew Shorthose (on for Jon Hudson), Sam Wareham (on for Hee-Won Cho), James Dargan (on for Alastair Adams-Cairns)

Scores T: Will Boardman (1) P: Matthew Shorthose (1), Jon Hudson (1)