WEST OF ENGLAND LEAGUE

TOM Miles landed a sudden-death drop-goal to send Oxford Cavaliers into the play-off final with a 33-32 home victory over Gloucestershire Warriors.

Half back Miles struck in extra-time after Cavaliers had levelled the match with a try from prop Adam Thompson on the final play.

Even then the drama was not over as Adam White hit the bar with a tricky conversion that would have sealed victory.

Oxford will now visit Cheltenham Old Patesians, who were handed a walkover by Somerset Vikings, in the final on Saturday.

Cavaliers looked strong for the first ten minutes, going two tries up, but as was a pattern throughout the match kept allowing Warriors back into the game Thompson and Wes Newton crashed over from close range, with White converting both.

After 20 minutes, Warriors sparked into life and Dave Tomlinson’s wide pass gave Sam Goatley enough space to round the defence and score.

Moments later, the same combination worked again and Goatley dotted down under the posts, Ash Lewis converting.

Two minutes later, Tomlinson’s chip over the top sat up perfectly for Alex Hoyle to race over. Lewis added the extras to put Warriors 16-12 ahead.

Cavaliers hit back with tries from Connor McCaffrey and Newton, White converting the former.

It was 22-22 at half-time as Goatley gave Lewis the scoring pass and the latter converted.

Lewis added his second try two minutes into the second half, stretching over to score after an arcing run.

Seven minutes later, Cavaliers’ Jamie Jones crashed over for a try hotly disputed by the Warriors, for whom Neil Cully was sin-binned.

White’s penalty then put Oxford 28-26 ahead, but the visitors rallied again, with Josh Kelly crossing over for Lewis to convert.

With time running out, man-of-the-match Thompson pounced on Miles kick to the corner to equalise.

This spelled ten minutes of sudden-death extra-time, in which Miles proved the hero.

Oxford chairman Stuart James said: “It was a great game and all the Cavaliers players showed great spirit in holding on to the final whistle.”