Conference Game 4 - Oxford Cavaliers Vs Bristol Sonics

Patchy performance from Cavs gives the Sonics their first win

A very patchy performance from a Cavaliers team that struggled to gel together this weekend gave the Bristol Sonics A side their first win in the South West Conference.
The Cavaliers struggled to play as a team from the off with handling errors and communication mix ups,despite this managed to take the lead through a Jack Briggs try breaking the line and forcing his way over on the five minute mark,from this promising postion Oxford did not see much of the ball throughout the middle of the first half with Bristol running in 4 unanswered tries. The only promising points were the central defence standing up to the strong straight ball carrying of the Bristol pack, Hooker Stewart Hannah top tackling in the match with a total of 18 and new recruit kiwi Jimmy playing in the second row closely behind with 16.

Cavaliers managed to work there way into a attacking position on field due to a knock on from the Bristol fullback from a fifth tackle kick from half Shane Turner, this allowed loose forward and Quins academy player Calum Murrey-Threipland to pick off the scrum and a quick play allowed Hannah to feed Fijian fullback Matavasi to step one and hold the Sonics defence up creating Winger Ben Bodinham to register his fifth try of the season running in to touch down in the corner.

Cavaliers again failed with moving on from the platform they had created with the Sonics running in two trys with only a try from Oxford prop Russ Jewell to help matters before half time making the score 14-22.

Injuries and fatigue began to take their toll going into the second half,but an impressive performance from loose forward Tom O'riley off the bench helped inject some much needed go forward,and good ball carrying from forwards Ollie Goldsworthy,kiwi Jimmy, Joe Hoare and Fijian centre 'Pepsi' gave the cavaliers the opportunity to score a further two tries, one from fullback Matavesi barging himself through the midfield and breaking away the other from replacement centre Joe Devanney slipping his way round the Bristol winger and fullback to go in near the posts allowing an easy Cavaliers conversion.

Bristol managed to step it up a gear in the final quarter after further injuries to cavaliers halves and hooker took their toll on the bench,they managed to run in several unanswered tries finishing the game with a healthy 36-22 final score.