TWO late penalties from St Albans full back Marcus Tobin cost Oxford Cavaliers the points in their opening Rugby League Conference fixture of the season at Marston Ferry Road on Saturday.

Tobin landed 67th and 71st minute goals to give the visitors a 15-12 win at the end of a tense encounter, which could still have ended with a Cavaliers win with Jamie Woods crossing, only to be called back for a forward pass.

Referee Steve Kildalion was forced to sin-bin Oxford loose forward Peter Barnes just before half-time, and then prop Graham Crane, on 68 minutes, for punching, and it was that poor discipline which cost the Cavaliers.

They opened the scoring with a Simon Hill penalty, and extended the lead when skipper Hill created a try for hooker Mick Kargill.

A converted try and a drop goal gave St Albans a 7-6 half-time lead, but a Hill penalty plus a superb 60 metre solo try by Kevin Whitley put Cavaliers in command again at 12-7.

St Albans replied with a try and two penalties to go 15-11 up with nine minutes left and when Woods raced over, they thought they had done enough, but the referee ruled out the score.

Cavaliers coach Dave Doran said: "We need to improve our defence, play to our gameplan from the start and play a more expansive game.

"Half the lads there were Oxford born and bred, and we are bound to improve; but the standard is already high and we'll keep improving."

Next week, Cavaliers face league champions North London.

Oxford: Whitley, Camill, Thompson, Woods, Millwaters, Hill, Crane, Scargill, Shaw, Shires, Williams, Barnes. Subs: Skorda, Peacock, Shore, Cooke, Smith, Pearce, Hedges.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.