Hockey: Graham lifts Dark Blues

Oxford University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

London University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

HOCKEY contests between the principal universities are seldom predictable and yesterday's Peroni South Premier League Division B game between Oxford and London proved no exception.

Oxford, having their best season for many years and contesting the League leadership, should have been too strong for bottom-placed London.

But, notwithstanding their poor form, London led for 52 minutes and only an equaliser nine minutes from time by Wayne Graham, following a penalty corner, secured a draw for Oxford.

Unfortunately for the Dark Blues, Graham will miss the Varsity match next month as he has been appointed captain of South Africa and will be playing in the Africa Cup in Nairobi while his colleagues face Cambridge.

Brendan Goffinet had put London ahead in the ninth minute, netting the rebound after Oxford's goalkeeper Tim Wigmore had saved well from Mike McAllister.

The game then mixed inept Oxford shooting with stout London defending, particularly from Noakes, Lewis and Turner.

Oxford's dream of National League status will remain just that unless they can break down packed defences.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY: T Wigmore (Christchurch); M Meredith (Pembroke), P Bell (Lincoln); A Minson (Balliol); R Markham (Mansfield); W Graham (Keble), S Griffiths (University), G Edwards (Lincoln, capt), A Laird, J Ralph (Brasenose), B Ellison (Keble). Substitute: R McDowell (St Benets).

LONDON UNIVERSITY: S Noakes; M Munro (Univ College); T Turner (capt); D Hills (King's), G Lewis (SOAS), D Muritu (Univ College), A Thompson (King's), S Wyke (Queen Mary's), B Goffinet (Univ College), M McAllister (LSE), M Johnson (Univ College).

Umpires: R Weare and D Lamb (SCHUA).

(Photograph omitted)