Swindon St George fell to a resounding 67-10 defeat in their first Midland Premier League match against Oxford Cavaliers.

A youthful Swindon side headed to Oxford and their lack of experience proved to be crucial in the first half as the Cavaliers racked up the points, mainly through some sloppy play-the-ball marking from the visitors, which allowed Oxford to take a commanding lead.

But with errors such as these tightened up in the second period and the visitors growing into the match as they acclimatised to a new level, a different game began to emerge as Swindon fought back.

In spite of a heavy defeat at closest rivals Oxford which might appear to some as demoralising, Swindon head coach Richard White was keen to point out some key positives which they can carry forward into the rest of the season.

He said: “We had three 17-year-olds making their debuts today and they have done themselves and the club proud. We also had three of our Masters side stepping in to help us out who all held their own. In total, we had eight debutants pulling on the SSG jersey.”

While admitting Oxford’s clinical approach in capitalising on his side’s first-half mistakes saw them post an imposing score at the break, White suggested that a much more positive picture came to light in the second period, saying: “When we finally got the ball and fizzed it around in the second half we caused them all sorts of issues and made them look poor.”

The head coach went on to single out one particular youngster for special praise, enthusing: “My man of the match goes to Tyler Lehmann. 17 years old and carried like a monster all game, smashed their big unit of a prop one-on-one and never took a backward step from anyone. Well done lad. Smashed it.

“What makes this even better is not only was it Ty’s debut, but he is the club’s first-ever junior to come through to open age.

“Everyone at St George is delighted with Tyler’s progress. He’s a real credit to himself, as well as to the coaching he’s received through the club’s junior pathway.”

Swindon will be hoping to build on the encouraging signs they showed as the match progressed as they face the Birmingham Bulldogs in their second game next weekend as they play their first home game in the Midlands Premier League.