Oxford Cavaliers managed to emerge victorious in their Summer Conference match against Cardiff Demons at Oxford Rugby Club, despite conceding 36 points for the second successive week.

Oxford were well below strength, due to injuries from last week's game at Hemel Hempstead, and could have been forgiven for being daunted by the physical confrontation promised by the Conference newcomers.

But that wasn't the case and they won 40-36.

The Demons were shocked when the Cavaliers' Martin Fairhurst scored after six minutes, but they responded quickly with a try for Moody.

This quickfire opening was to set the tempo for a high-scoring afternoon.

Welshman Wayne Williams scored his first try against his former club, and Kelvin Jordan benefited from scrum half Barry Randall's fast hands to score under the posts.

Cardiff showed good support play to produce tries for Ryce and Collett, but it was still Oxford who went in at the break 24-14 to the good.

In the second half, tempers as well as temperatures rose, and blows were exchanged more than once as the competitive game ebbed and flowed.

Cardiff clawed their way back to parity with tries from Marcus Bernard, Hugh Thomas and Dan Roverson, but they never took the lead as Oxford reasserted their dominance.

Wayne Williams was outstanding as he compiled a hat-trick of tries, and he underlined his contribution with a rugged tackling display.

Randall scooted over for a deserved try and good goal-kicking from Martin Fairhurst (5) and substitute Tony Smallman (2) sealed Cavaliers' victory.