The Oxford Cavaliers have faced a tough season but there have been many positives to come out of it and the club are looking to 2011 with excitement.
The Oxford Cavaliers were looking forward to a big 2010 season especially after kicking off with a couple of friendlies against tough opposition with their new look squad and staff. Kev Richards was a big addition to the club pre season as the new first team manager as well as a number of new young players such as Mario Da Silva, Brad Tailford, Tim Probets and Toby James.

The season didn't get off to the greatest start however with the club having to postpone their first game of the season against local rivals Swindon St George who they would later claim their first win of the season against quite convincingly. The forfeited fixture was only to be repeated once more in the league as the club showed some big improvements on last season.

The league table at the end of the 2010 season does not look pretty for the Oxford RL club and doesn't reflect the season that the Cavaliers had. Due to a lot of new players coming to the club it was clear that it would take at least a season for everyone to get to know each others game and begin to play as a team. There were some outstanding individual performances throughout the season, the most consistent coming from newcomers Mario and Johnno Da Silva as well as Jack Briggs and Calum Murray Threipland coming back for yet another season with the Cavaliers. There were also a number of injuries to key players such as Stewart Hannah, Kev Mason and John Connaughton which denied the Cavaliers of a natural leader out on the field to direct the enthusiasm shown by the young side that would represent the Cavaliers on a weekly basis.

With the average age of the Cavaliers squad in the mid twenties the future of the open age side looks bright. Many of the games played during the 2010 season the cavaliers were leading with 20 minutes remaining but due to the inexperience the lads were unable to shut the game out and enabled the opposition to come back and take the spoils. As long as the current squad can stick together they will only begin to get stronger.

Mark (BULLDOG) Shaw has also done a fantastic job this season and is looking to strengthen the open age side by setting up the Oxford Cavaliers Academy 16-19 year old. This will hopefully ensure that the club will continue to build their open age side so they can bring in young experienced players for years to come.

The new committee is now looking forward to the 2011 season and plan to begin training within the next month enabling players to rest after the tough season they have been involved in. The club are looking to Kev Mason for leadership as he is about to begin his coaching career with the Cavaliers by attending the Level 2 coaching course. With his assistant coaches Ollie O'Mara and Andy Rourke looking to support Mason with the coaching it is looking very promising already for 2011. 'The appointment of Kev (Mason) as head coach is an exciting one for the club' said club captain John Connaughton, 'He has the respect of all of the lads already at the club and he has led by example on the field for the club for the last three years. With the support of Ollie (O'Mara) and newcomer Andy Rourke it is a very exciting time for the club' Connaughton went on to say.

There will be a lot of players wanting to please the new coaching staff for the 2011 season which will bring a new level of competition at the club. Everyone will be wanting to hold down a place in the starting 13 and will look to show commitment and ability in training and friendlies once they begin. There are many at the club who feel that 2011 could be a big season for the club and only time will tell.