OXFORD RL head coach Tony Benson is relishing making history tomorrow when they face South Wales Scorpions in their first home game at Iffley Road (2.30).

The city’s new rugby league club have made an encouraging start to competitive action, winning their opening Championship One clash and battling hard at Halifax in the Challenge Cup.

Now they are looking to showcase their talents at one of England’s most traditional rugby union grounds.

“I am really looking forward to the match,” said Benson, whose side lost 54-12 at Halifax last time out.

“It’s the first game at home on Saturday, which is going to be an historic occasion for the club and city of Oxford and will be great to get our home campaign started.

“South Wales are an established team. I don’t know if there will be any dual-registered players from Wigan in their matchday squad, but either way it will be a formidable challenge.”

Benson added: “Halifax was as tough as it is going to get, but I thought especially in the second half we really pushed on and can take a lot of confidence out of the game.

“For the score to be 22-12 in the second half, we did fantastically well considering the opposition.

“We need to keep playing games and also have time together on the field to keep improving.”

Former Oxford Cavaliers back Jack Briggs, from Kidlington, is one of eight players who come into Oxford’s preliminary squad, which will be whittled down to 17.

Alan Blewitt, Alex Wright, George Stevens, Nath Rainer, Ruairi Lynch, Scott Critchley and Tala Petelo also come into contention.

Martin Roden drops out from the 17 that faced Halifax.

Oxford captain Alex Thompson said: “We were playing against pretty much full-time opposition at Halifax and I thought we did extremely well.

“We did better than some Championship clubs who have visited Halifax in the league.

“If everyone keeps doing there jobs then we will be fine.”

Oxford RL: from Blewitt, Thompson (capt), Wright, Hoggins, McGrory, Clarke, Ellison, Stevens, Osborn, Briggs, Clough, Connaughton, Leather, Fianda, Hadden, Crabtree, Rainer, Johnson, Lynch, Critchley, S Robinson, Petelo, Connick, Bentley.