CURUFC vs Steele Bodgers XV Match report
A capacity crowd turned out at Grange Road last week for the traditional fixture against a XV selected by former blue Micky Steele-Bodger. Originally organised in 1948 as a warm up game for the varsity match, it is now a much anticipated date in the Light Blues calendar with the chance for the team to test themselves against an experienced side so close to the big day.
Leading the Steele-Bodger XV was current Plymouth head coach and former Cambridge player-coach James Shanahan who brought together a side full of experience in the national leagues along with some old faces from the Cambridge area including Darren Fox and Chris Lombaard.
Unfortunately these combinations proved too much of a test for the university who struggled to get hold of the ball and with pressure mounting, often saw passes going to ground.
Cambridge took the lead after 7 minutes and doubled their score from the tee just before half time but two push over tries from a strong Steele-Bodgers pack meant the invitational team held the advantage going into the break.
Stevens struck another penalty not long after half time but two more scores from the Steele Bodgers’ Gift Sankoh and Louis Rawlings put them out of sight mid-way through the second half.
The game began to break down in the final quarter with more handling errors creeping into both sides’ play. Cambridge took advantage of their increased possession with a final score from Toby May in the 71st minute but could not close the gap further.
The match finished Cambridge University 16 Steele Bodger XV 26.
The Blues host Leicester tigers tonight in their last game before they face the old enemy at Twickenham next week. Kick off is at 19:15.
Cambridge University: Allen; Cherezov, May, Gillies, Rees; Stevens, Peck; Briggs, Pascoe, Poulton, Baker, Hall, Rose, Kelly, Farmer.
Replacements: Montgomery (Pascoe, 45), Exton (Briggs, 62), Sanders (Briggs, 62), Bartholomew, Dass (Kelly, 62), Tullie, Wylde (Rees, 62), Phillips.
Steele-Bodger XV: Evans (Carmarthen Quins); Norville (Leicester Tigers), Barnard (Peterborough Lions), Lombaard (Old Albanian), Sankoh (Leicester Tigers); Shanahan (Plymouth Albion), Daly (Old Albanian); Harrison (Plymouth Albion), Sait (Peterborough Lions), McCrone (Bishop's Stortford), Hodge (Cross Keys), Kolakowski (Cambridge), Rawlings (Cambridge), Edwards (Cardiff Blues & Wales 7s), Fox (Peterborough Lions).
Match report by Mike Riches