Gloucester in a league of their own
A lacklustre Oxford team fought through a tough encounter against a top-of- the-table Gloucester side brimming with confidence, yet never posed a serious threat to the away side's stong performance.
A failure to match Gloucester's powerful pack and disorganisation in defence let the Oxford side down and the visitors took an early lead which they never conceeded.
Four unanswered tries gave Gloucester an 18 point lead after only 15 minutes of play.
From then on it was more an exercise in damage limitation than a competitive Rugby League match.
The visitor's first try came courtesy of powerful second-row James Silver who crashed over after space was created by influential loose forward and Gloucester captain Dan Cowling.
Defensive weakness and a failure to secure the ball in the tackle led to both the second and third tries.
Cowling again showed his determination in eluding Oxford hooker James Hall to score under the posts.
Unfortunately for Oxford, Gloucester's defence was as good as their attack, and when Oxford finally did gain possession in the 19th minute they failed to make any headway into the opponents half.
Even successive penalties were not enough to create any openings.
Cowling and powerhouse prop Neal Mitchell kept the scoreboard ticking over with two further tries before half-time, both converted by full-back Olly Faulkner who added a drop goal not long before half-time.
It took a tremendous effort from second row forward Toby Obecke and tireless skipper Chris Fitzgerald to allow Oxford to restrain Gloucester early in the second half.
The determination of the Oxford side caused Gloucester to step up a gear and after a much improved defensive display there were tries for Mitchell, and outstanding centre Eddy Beaumont who finished the game with a haul of five touchdowns.
At 51-0, a series of last-ditch try-saving tackles from full-back Matt Scaife almost certainly saved a further four tries from being scored within a 20 minute period.
The final whistle could not come soon enough for the bruised and humiliated Oxford side, and did not before Beaumont's fifth converted try added a little more salt to the wound.
All in all this was a brave effort against a well organised, on-form Gloucester side.
Although the score rightfully indicated a whitewash, the determination to continue in the face of adversity was admirable, and if Oxford can turn this determination into more fruitful Rugby League, they will not suffer such defeat again.
18th Nov 2004