OXFORD Cavaliers finished with just 11 men as they went down to a 38-20 defeat at Cheltenham Phoenix in the West of England League.

The visitors paid for travelling with just 13 players, but the afternoon began brightly with tries from Kieran Welsh and Arron Lambourne, who converted to put them 10-0 up.

But the game turned when skipper Lambourne was forced off with a head injury.

Cheltenham exploited the man advantage with two tries to draw level at half-time.

Lee Taylor struck for Cavaliers at the start of the second half, but they were reduced to 11 men when player/coach Luke Evans went off with a hamstring injury.

The hosts ran in five tries to seal victory, although the visitors had the final word with a score from Reiss O’Callaghan-Howard.