Theo Pett-Ridge’s early break inadvertently led to the opening students’ score, his kick on halfway charged down before Otis Walker crossed.
Harry Bridgewater added the extras, and the hosts swiftly added to their tally as Ben Shaw touched down on the right.
Things got worse as Isaac Tokura was yellow carded for an infringement on his own line, Bridgewater landing a simple penalty for a three-score game.
A third University try soon followed as outside centre collected a chip ahead to dive over for 22-0.
It was one-way traffic and after a 50-22 gave Oxford territory, they hammered away at the line before Michael Fankah barged over from close range.
Hosts flourish from inside their own half
Rams then shot themselves with an overthrown line-out allowing Cunningham to rinse and repeat his earlier effort, Bridgewater on target.
And almost immediately after the restart, another spilt ball allowed Walker to race in from 60 metres for a converted try.
It was a fifth out of six fashioned from the hosts’ half and gave them an intimidating 41-0 half-time lead.
Rams went through a few phases in their own 22 early in the second period before a clearance kick missed touch, the Dark Blues’ electric backs sending Bridgewater under the posts.
He took his personal tally to 18 with the extras, but with a cricket score on the cards, Rams bravely roused themselves in the final 35 minutes.
Marshall gets Rams on the board
Significantly reducing their error count, the visitors began to control possession and territory, getting on the scoreboard as Max Marshall barrelled over following a spell of sustained pressure.
James Gilman landed the conversion, and his side doubled their tally with another close-range seven-pointer, Will Burrows this time the try-scorer.
A period of stalemate ensued as both sides rang the changes, but it was the hosts who clicked back into gear on 74 minutes.
More good play from their three-quarters, who were lively all evening, ended with replacement Henry Henderson touching down to breach the half-century.
Bridgewater reached 20 points for the night, but it was Rams who had the final word.
They stubbornly battered away inside the students’ 22, a long ball wide deliberately knocked on to finish proceedings with a penalty try.
The Development XV face another tough test when they visit British Army on Wednesday, February 25 (7.45pm).
