TORFAEN Tigers kick-started their Conference League South campaign with an emphatic 56-22 victory over Oxford Cavaliers.

Playing up the slope at the Kings Head Ground, Cwmbran, in the first half, the Tigers roared into an early 12-0 lead thanks to tries from Gareth Rusby-Davies and Matt Cummins, Cummins converting both.

The Tigers then became their own worst enemies as a series of cheap penalties and handling errors gave the visitors possession and territory which they converted into a 14-12 lead thanks to tries from Paul Bolger, Stu Waknell and Tommy Davies plus a goal from Bryn Evans.

Tigers centre Andrew Barlow hit back and Cummins again converted to give the Tigers an 18-14 lead at the break.

Bolger added his second after the break to tie the scores before the Tigers asserted their dominance as Micki Witts crashed over between the sticks.

Man of the match Rusby-Davies then broke the line before offloading to Ryan Bates to race away and score.

Chris Wannell and Sam Hancox then crossed and Cummins added three goals to leave the score at 40-14 before errors crept back into the hosts' game.

Poor passing and dropped balls saw the Tigers butcher several opportunities to extend the lead and Jorge Calpro gave the visitors hope when he crossed in the corner.

But the Tigers put the game to bed with tries from Jarad Hinnem, a second for Wannell, who converted both, before Jake Thomas completed the scoring for a 56-22 success.

The Tigers remain bottom but are within reach of those above them and will aim to build on their success when they host fourth-placed Sheffield Hallam Eagles in Cwmbran on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).