RESOLUTE Rams Development XV were made to pay for a series of costly turnovers as they went down 24-12 under the Friday Night Lights at Oxford University.

On a chilly but dry evening at Iffley Road, the first quarter proved a feeling out process until the hosts suddenly burst into life, full-back Harry Bridgewater collecting a chip just inside his own half before the ball was spread right for Tom Mewes to touch down.

Bridgewater added a decent conversion before the game settled back into a familiar pattern of being played in the middle third of the field, the students’ aggressive defence shutting down anything Rams tried to create and often forcing them to kick.

In a half of few chances – and suffering a yellow card for repeated infringements towards the end of the opening stanza – it was the home side who took their second ruthlessly, some lovely handling this time ending with Ben Hartigan in out wide.

While Bridgewater was unable to add the extras, Blues led 12-0 at the interval and they moved further in front when another Tom Humberstone chip was charged down by opposite man Ben Scher, the fly-half then throwing a dummy before sending Danny Stokes under the posts for a seven-pointer.

With tight-head prop producing an eye-catching effort both in the tight and loose – a couple of strong carries getting his side on the front foot – Rams hit back with a second yellow card for Oxford arriving at the scrum.

And shortly after the visitors got on the board, a huge rolling maul dragged down illegally, another sin-binning coming almost as quickly as the students had been restored to 14.

However, Rams again shot themselves in the foot as the University defied their numerical disadvantage to claim a decisive fourth try, winning a turnover breakdown before a silky break ended with wing Wolfe Morn crossing on the left.

The visitors, though, continued to battle and gave themselves a glimmer of hope as replacement fly-half James Gilman struck a superb 50/22 to gain his side field position, then threading a glorious grubber kick through for youngster Tom David to collect and dive over.

The conversion attempt drifted wide, however, and despite their best efforts, the Development XV were never truly able to ever land a further shot as Oxford held on for a deserved victory.

The Development XV are next in action at home to Richmond Vikings (2nd XV) on Wednesday, February 12 (7.45pm).