Robinson cheers Dark Blues

Hockey

BILL COLWILL

London University 1 Oxford University 3

Ken Robinson, Oxford University's New Zealand striker, punished London for slack marking as he scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of the sides' annual fixture at Dukes Meadows, Chiswick, yesterday.

London, denied an early goal by an umpire's quick whistle as Alec Terris slammed home their second penalty corner, might have gone on to give Oxford a surprise. The reprieve, however, allowed the Dark Blues to step up a gear and move the ball purposefully forward.

The bearded Ben Cope suddenly appeared free on the right with time for a precision cross for Robinson's first goal from close quarters, giving goalkeeper Steve Dodson no chance.

Dodson was only called upon to make one further save, from the German Under-21 international Henning Tewes, before being beaten again by Robinson as his defence was slow to clear their lines in the 20th minute.

London, with some gritty tackling, clawed their way back with Julian Soles finishing off a good move by Luke Nolan to pull a goal back on the interval.

Oxford continued to show their superior skills in a drab second half, Jon Pratt getting their third goal after 41 minutes, the London defence standing off as he moved into the circle to shoot through a ruck of players.

London University: S Dodson; O Ruxburgh, R Tait, J Galliford, P Meakin, Mohammed A Tamir, A Terris (capt), S Miners, J Stather, L Nolan, J Soles.

Oxford University: D Jefferson; T Griffiths (capt), A Walther, P Bell, W Kendall, H Tewes, J Pratt, B Cope, R MacDowell, K Robinson, B Raumann.

Umpires: I Fitzgerald, S Fenton (both Middlesex).