Cambridge University clinch thrilling win in the Men’s Varsity Match
By Mark Taylor
A rousing comeback and finish saw Cambridge University clinch a thrilling 35-28 win over Oxford in the R.M. Williams Men’s Varsity Match.
The two sides served up a compelling game at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium where, in the end, Oxford’s power could not contain the expanse of the Light Blues.
Although, that is a very simplistic take on the game. This was almost a game of strategy where you were never quite sure what each side would make as their next move to either mitigate or negate the opposition.
The Dark Blues had a strong line-out, and this was the source of their four tries, but Cambridge’s defence across the pitch was impressive. They were keeping their opponents not just at bay, but outside the 22. It meant that glimpses of the try line were having to be hard earned.
The 10-metre line had become the Cambridge forwards’ defensive water line, and woe betide anybody that crossed it – and the only route was to go over the top and into the corner.
With such commendable work in the tight, the next question was what they could do in possession, and that took a little bit longer to click.
It was not for trying in the early stages, but Oxford were doing all they could to thwart the efforts. However, when the play became more open in the latter stages of the match, Cambridge were able to make hay when stretching play out to the wings.
And this was the source of the final two tries that ultimately sealed the Light Blues’ third Varsity Match win in a row.
The first points on the board were posted by Cambridge, through George Bland’s fifth minute penalty.
Oxford hit back through a catch and drive from a line-out which was finished off on the second phase through Michael Fankan, and it was converted by Harry Bridgewater.
Bland landed a second penalty to reduce the arrears to 7-6.
However, Oxford, who had lost captain Luke Wyllie to injury, established a three-score lead. A catch and drive from a line-out ended with William Roddy grounding the ball and Bridgewater converting. Then, seven minutes later, Oxford stole a line-out and their patience was rewarded when Fankan touched down a second try, with Bridgewater’s extras making it 21-6.
Cambridge started to exert more authority and this led to Jack Sander being shown a yellow card after Oxford’s penalty count had been creeping up.
From the subsequent play, there was a piece of ingenuity. It seemed certain the ball would go to the open side when encamped on the line, but the Light Blues went to the blind side for Matt Riddington to touch down.
Two minutes later, a deliberate knock-on under the posts saw Jack Hamilton shown a yellow card for Oxford, and Cambridge went left from the penalty for Alex Christey to touch down. Bland landed the extras to reduce the arrears to 21-18 at half time.
Oxford made the stronger start to the second half, and their good work in the tight was again rewarded by Roddy, who got his second try and Bridgewater kicked the conversion to make it 28-18.
Cambridge started to add more expanse to their game, and it was stretching their rivals who were scrambling in defence.
The first rewards were served in the 67th minute when a looping pass wide to the right under a penalty advantage was caught by Ryan Santos to touch down, and Bland added the extras to make it a three-point lead.
Four minutes from time, a great break by Tim Andrew was recycled by Fergus Hughes, who went galloping towards the line. The captain was stopped just short, but play was recycled right and Jack Allinson had spotted the overlap to loop a pass out to Luke John in acres of space. The Cambridge No 13 applied the finishing touch, and Bland’s conversion made it 32-28.
Bland then had the final say, kicking a penalty to seal a superb 35-28 win with the final play of the game.
Cambridge University: Bland; Santos, John, Riddington, Andrew; Bottomley, Holdroyd; Collins, Gompels, Edwards, Beaumont, Kantolinna, Hughes, Christey, Tosa.
Replacements: Petty (Collins, 40, Hide (Holdroyd, 55), Allinson (Bottomley, 55), Jones (Beaumont, 55), Day (Santos, 77). Not used: Du Roy, Addai, Evans.
Oxford University: Bridgewater; Mewes, Stokes, Wyllie, Morn; Scher, Hamilton; Kirk, Roddy, Fankah, Toze, Hartigan, Dick, Newland, Walker.
Replacements: O’Donnell, Belcher-Heath, Pratt, Rozenbroek, Pratt, Line, Sander, Shaw.
Scorers: 5min Bland pen (3-0), 8 Fankah try – Bridgewater con (3-7), 17 Bland pen (6-7), 27 Roddy try – Bridgewater con (6-14), 34 Fankah try – Bridgewater con (6-21), 38 Riddington try (11-21), 40 Christey try – Bland con (18-21), 55 Roddy try – Bridgewater con (18-28), 67 Santos try – Bland con (25-28), 76 John try – Bland con (32-28), 80 Bland pen (35-28).
