CHELTENHAM OLD PATESIANS capped an incredible first season in Rugby League by demolishing defending champions OXFORD CAVALIERS 94-12 at Everest Road to win the West of England title at the first attempt. The Old Pats put on a commanding display scoring 18 tries with captain Darren Moore pulling the strings and finishing with a personal haul of 26 points from a try and 11 goals. The Cavaliers were a shadow of the side that contested an epic semi final last weekend and were pulled apart by Moore with eager runners profiting from the holes he created. Old Pats’ defence was also in no mood for compromise and the Cavaliers could only cross the line three times in reply as they were swept away.

The rout began in the second minute when James Pettigrew scored the first of his three tries straight from a tap penalty. Henry Tapsell scored next coasting over with two men outside him in support. Sadly Tapsell was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg shortly after Ben Tupper had added to tries from Jamie Fisher and Simon Brown to give the home side a 24-4 lead. Ben Sydenham had gone over for the Cavaliers but Callum Stonier and Tupper added to Old Pats lead before Stewart Wankell scored in the corner for the visitors. Despite their tries, the Cavaliers looked all at sea, unable to cope with Pats’ direct running and crisp handling. Just before the interval Moore dummied over for a simple try that summed up the first half in a nutshell. Moore added the goal to put Pats out of sight at 38-8 at the break.

If the Cavaliers thought the second half would bring some form of respite they were mistaken. Pats extended their lead three minutes into the half through Tupper before three tries in five minutes from Paul Knight, Brown after a lovely pass from Jamie Park and Fisher after a 50-metre run down the wing took the score past the half century. Wes Newton pulled a consolation try back for the Cavaliers but the Pats were now enjoying themselves thoroughly. Pettigrew picked up a loose ball and ran half the length of the field to score and then did the same thing again straight from the restart. Jonathan Loudon and Stonier went over after breaking through the defence and racing to the line before some sublime handling sent Fisher over for the final try in an utterly comprehensive victory.