OXFORD RL were unable to make it five home wins on the bounce as they went down 36-12 to North Wales Crusaders in Kingstone Press League 1.

Despite a valiant second half effort, the match was all but beyond Oxford after they conceded four tries before the break at Iffley Road.

Jamie Dallimore (2), Craig White and Benjamin Jullien went over for a 24-0 lead at halftime.

Rob Massam added to their tally after the restart, but Oxford reduced the deficit, thanks to tries from Vila Halafhi and Danny Thomas.

However, Crusaders put the match beyond Tim Rumford’s side when Tommy Johnson crossed the whitewash late on.

Oxford went into the match full of confidence after four successive home victories, but Crusaders never looked back after scoring on six minutes.

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Dallimore stepped through Oxford’s defence to dot down.

Johnson converted.

White then wriggled over the line for their second, Scott Turner adding the extras.

Oxford struggled to contain the visitors, in particular full back Kevin Perry, who broke the gain line on several occasions.

Dallimore crossed for his second and Turner was successful from the boot for 18-0.

Oxford fought hard to get on the board before the break, but as the siren sounded Jullien pounced on a loose pass and sprinted 30 metres to score.

Turner converted for 24-0.

Crusaders increased their lead immediately after the break through Massam.

Turner made no mistake to add the extra two points from the touchline.

Oxford finally sparked into life, with Dean Mignacca creating breaks and injecting pace in attack, while Jordan Andrade began to break the first tackle.

They finally got off the mark when Halafhi dived over from short range on 61 minutes.

Nathan Kitson slotted the conversion.

And two minutes later, Kitson sent Thomas clear to sprint over the line.

Kitson made it 30-12 from the boot.

However, the Blues were to be denied any further scores and Crusaders added one last try when Johnson went over and converted for 36-12.

The defeat leaves Oxford fifth bottom ahead of Sunday’s home encounter against Coventry Bears, one place above.