Alex Cheesman offloads to second row Joe Lane

Oxford University Rugby club lost to a young Sale Sharks XV 43-25 at Iffley Road on Monday.

The Blues started well when fly-half Charlie Marr kicked a penalty after just five minutes.

Sharks responded with three tries from captain Dan Hall, wing Matt Neary and prop Simon McIntyre.

Blues fought back before half-time with a Luke Jones try, but the Sharks proved too strong as they added four tries after the break to give Sale the win.

After the rain for most of the day, the match started brightly with Marr's early penalty but the rest of the game the Blues were on the back foot.

Sale dominated the first half and scored three tries in 15 minutes, two of which fly-half Tommy Bell converted.

Captain Nick Haydon sparked life into the Blues and they were rewarded when wing Luke Jones scored out wide, with a strong finish following a good attacking move from the backs.

Marr added the extras with a fine touchline conversion. That completed the first-half scoring with the away team ahead by 19-13.

After the break Sale demonstrated the quality of their young talent when they added three further tries from full-back Mark Jenning and centres Mark Winstanley and Harri Morgan.

The Blues then made some changes from the bench and enjoyed their best period of play when club captain Nick Haydon burrowed over the try line from short range.

Replacement flanker Alex Rowe showed a neat turn of pace to score out wide and Marr added the conversion.

This was not the end of the scoring as replacement Sale scrum-half Mohammed Mustafa finished off the night with a try in the corner during injury time.

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