The Cavaliers first pre-season friendly saw them defeated away at Bedford Tigers


The Oxford Cavaliers participated in their first pre-season friendly away at Bedford Tigers. The two sides met before their 2010 campaigns last year and were seperated by six points but both clubs had very different seasons. The Cavaliers struggled for numbers and consistency and as a result propped up their league whilst the Tigers finished runners up in a much more competitive league.
With this in mind the Cavaliers were hoping to try and compete and this goal was definitely achieved. The Tigers have clearly made a lot of progress over the last year and they got off to a strong start with a try inside five minutes. The Cavaliers, travelling with sixteen players, responded well scoring a try of their own through John Connaughton bringing the scores level after fifteen minutes. Bedford again hit back 5 minutes later with an unconverted try after a quick dart from the play the ball from the Tigers number nine. Due to the high temperatures on the day the game was to be played in four twenty minute quarters and a nice move in front of the Tigers line involving Darren Price and Tom Waterfield sending Jack Briggs in for his first try leaving the Cavaliers taking a two point lead into the second quarter.
The Cavaliers were beginning to struggle with the temperature as well as injuries which were leaving the squad low. Stewart Hannah had to go off inside the first two minutes with a bad injury to his leg and on half time Connaughton had to leave the field with heat stroke.
The lads still stuck together and gave their all for the remainder of the game. There were impressive debuts from Price, Joe Devenney and Owen Henderson as well as some strong performances from man of the match Joel Holmes and Rauiri Lynch. The Bedford Tigers proved too strong for the visitors in the second half with some very impressive running from their forwards. The Cavaliers still played with plenty of spirit and scored two further tries of their own through Briggs and Price which saw the game finish 54-22 to the Tigers.
The Cavaliers will now look to their final pre-season friendly against AGC at home this Wednesday before they look to make a big impact in the first game of the season next Saturday away to Wiltshere Wyverns.

Squad: Stewart HANNAH, Jack BRIGGS, John CONNAUGHTON, Peter SMITH, Ollie GOLDSWORTHY, Tom WATERFIELD (c), Tim PROBETS, Darren PRICE, Ian ALLISON, Joe DEVENNEY, Rauiri LYNCH, Joel HOLMES, Owen HENDERSON, James SMITH, Shane TURNER, mark (BULLDOG) Shaw