DEBUTANT Ben Bodinham ran in a hat-trick of tries to help Oxford Cavaliers battle back and defeat Swindon St Geo-rge 38-32.

Loose forward Bodinham was in fine form, while brothers Johnny and Mario Da Silva bagged try braces in a pulsating Co-operative Rugby Lea-gue Conference West of England Regional clash.

Having lost their opening match 50-24 at Wiltshire Wyverns, Cavaliers looked set for another defeat when entering the break 28-12 down, but they bounced back in style.

A missed tackle allowed Swindon to open the scoring with a converted try, but Cavaliers replied with Bodinham and Mario Da Silva going over.

The former stemmed from a simple drive, while the latter was set up by a handling move.

Four more Swindon tries, three converted, meant Bodinham’s second just about kept Oxford in the game.

After the break, hard yards from forwards Tyson Blackstock, Barry Llewelyn and Jack Briggs gave a platform for winger Chris Taylor to sneak over the whitewash.

Swindon’s sixth try made it 32-16, but Johnny Da Silva twice forced his way over after returning from the interchange.

Despite the warm conditions, Cavaliers kept battling and Bodinham’s hat-trick try made it 32-28.

Oxford drew level with Briggs’s superb solo effort ten minutes from time, which saw him beat four defenders.

Cavaliers sealed the spoils late on, with Mario Da Silva’s second try, converted by Simon Gamble.