OXFORD RL were unable to end the regular season on a high as they went down to a high-scoring 52-34 defeat at home to University of Gloucestershire All Golds.

The Blues scored seven tries in the Kingstone Press League 1 clash at Tilsley Park, but it was not enough to overcome their visitors.

Oxford finished second from bottom and now head into the end-of-season Shield, which is contested between the sides who come ninth to 15th in the table.

The teams will play each other once before the first and second-placed teams compete in a final, but there is no relegation from the league.

On Sunday, 17 tries were exchanged between the two sides at a blustery Tilsley Park, with All Golds’s Joe McClean helping himself to four.

He opened the scoring after two minutes, before he charged through the middle for his second.

McClean completed his hat-trick on 15 minutes in a similar fashion as All Golds raced into a dominant lead, despite Jordan Gill crossing for Oxford in between the scores.

The visitors looked in control when Jack Uren dived over, but the Blues fought back.

Gill crossed for his second and Luke Gardiner scored a stunning 90-metre solo try.

However, James Walter crashed over on 36 minutes to ensure All Golds led 24-14 at the break.

Oxford conceded two tries in the space of the first four minutes of the second half.

The Blues failed to deal with the kick-off and Lewis Reece dived over, before Walter grabbed his second.

The home side responded almost immediately through Sadiq Adebiyi on 49 minutes.

And the momentum seemed to swing in Oxford’s favour as Charlie Green dived over twice in three minutes to reduce the arrears to six points.

But just when the hosts looked to have the upper hand, Phil Cowburn scored in controversial fashion for the visitors after Luke Stephens had allegedly knocked on.

All Golds added to their tally when McClean powered over for his fourth and Cowburn ran in from 80 metres.

Oxford were to have the last say, though, as Danny Allan chipped over the top for James Cryer to score.

Nathan Kitson landed three of his seven kicks for the hosts.

For the visitors, Kieran Hyde was successful with four of his eight attempts, while Lewis Reece converted two from two.