It was a great contribution of 23 points from fly half Mark Matthews and further tries from Adam Stimson (2), Johnny Harrison (2), Mark White, Pete Watt, Martin Stimson and Jon Bland enabled the home side to record their largest victory in two seasons.

The Oaks opened their try account on five minutes when captain Martin Stimson gathered a loose ball and was able to crash over the line, Matthews converting.

The tries kept coming from then on with the young, energetic Oakham backs making light work of their physically bigger opponents.

Centre Adam Stimson always looked a threat with darting runs throughout the game despite it being his first game back from injury.

Watt, back in the first XV, crossed on 20 minutes after sustained pressure in the away side's 22.

Wing Harrison could have easily scored a hat-trick of his own but the referee pulled him back on numerous occasions due to forward passes.

To top off the first half, experienced full back Bland found himself on the end of a neat move off the top of a lineout followed by slick handling to score in the corner.

With Oakham going into half-time 48-0 up, coach Powell was eager for his side to up another gear and really rack up a cricket score.

However, a spirited Ashfield side disrupted the young Oaks flowing game and began to take control up front by using their big forwards to out-muscle their younger hosts.

The Oakham backs received a lot less quick ball and didn't have the resources to run in tries as they did in the first half.

Prop White, however, broke a dreary patch of play by powering his way over the line to get the ball rolling again.

In the latter stages of the match 47-year-old veteran Mike Walsh entered the fray, bolstering the pack.

He quickly made an impact, disrupting Ashfield's ball at the tail of the lineout and creating mayhem in the loose.

Further tries from Stimson and Matthews rounded off a pleasing, morale-boosting performance.

However, Oakham must improve if they are to meet this season's expectations of finishing in the top half of the table.

Oakham: Bland, Harrison, A Stimson, Thomas, Watt, Matthews, Milnes, T Reid, M Stimson, A Boyle, Gant, Gallimore, White, Rees, Corner.
Replacements used – M Walsh, N Henbrey, R Pocock.