Emily Bell crosses the line after beating 7 dark blue defenders
Cambridge University 28 Oxford University 26 - BUCS Premier South
Emily Bell’s blistering turn of foot paved the way for Cambridge University to clinch a 28-26 win over Oxford University at Grange Road.
In an absorbing BUCS Premier South game, the No 8 had the telling say with a mesmerising 50m dash that led to the scores being levelled, and Izzy Boothroyd landed the vital conversion to clinch the Light Blues’ victory.
You would be forgiven for not realising that it was both teams’ first matches since November as they were immediately up to speed in a dress rehearsal for the Varsity Matches, which are being held at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium on Saturday, March 2.
At the core of Cambridge’s success was their defensive display.
Oxford put together some good passages of play but were being afforded little time to set themselves or build up the phases.
When the Dark Blues went wide, the drift defence from the hosts was key to try to force their opponents to surrender possession or, at the least, force them back behind the gain line.
The defensive work came to the fore during the second half, when Cambridge had to withstand long spells of pressure, but they did so with a gritty determination allied with some impressive turnovers.
It was not just about the defences though, as both teams put together some eye-catching, attacking rugby.
Oxford were the first to reap the rewards from this approach, going ahead in just the third minute. Some good, quick ball along the line led to Lauren Webb to cut through on the diagonal to touch down, and Stella Farmer added the extras.
Throughout the match, there was little to separate the two teams at the set piece, but Cambridge had the upper hand in the 12th minute when a line-out led to a driving maul for the line, but it was hauled down illegally, and a penalty try was awarded.
The scores were level for little more than a minute though. Oxford inside centre Sophie Shams seized on a loose ball and went out wide to scrum-half Alex Wilkinson, who sprinted away to touch down and make it 12-7.
Cambridge got their noses in front in the 19th minute.
Great hands from Laura Vass found Bell, who switched the play back to the inside centre, and in support was Boothroyd, who darted in on a good line to dot down and then convert the score to make it 14-12.
Emilia Bushrod was sin-binned for a high tackle in the 23rd minute, but Cambridge weathered the spell of being a player, and captain, light without conceding a point.
They headed into half time with a 21-12 advantage after a clearing kick from the in-goal area was charged down and recycled along the line for Karla Boxall to get the try, and Boothroyd kicked the conversion.
The only defensive blips for Cambridge came in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Less than a minute was on the clock when Webb scythed through the hosts’ defence on a great attacking line to get her second try, and Wilkinson soon followed suit taking a quick tap penalty inside the 22 to snipe over the line. Farmer landed both conversions to make it 26-21.
However, the final say was to go to Bell in Cambridge’s only visit to the 22 in the half.
From around the 10-metre line, the Fitzwilliam College student put the pedal down with what seemed like a mass of Dark Blue shirts blocking the route to the try line.
But Bell cut a diagonal drift past around seven pursuers and was able to straighten up to touch down by the posts, and Boothroyd’s extras turned out to be the final points of the game.
It left you wondering if this was the starter then what the Varsity Match main course will serve up on the first weekend in March?
Cambridge University: Middleton; O’Keeffe, Boothroyd, Vass, Boxall; Mason, Bushrod; Gomezgil Yaspik, Latimer, Heathfield, Jones, Friend, Scowen, Smith, Bell.
Replacements: Weatherhogg, Hayward, Bryant, Worth, Smith, O’Keeffe, Yau.
Oxford University: Jones; Isaac, Berry, Shams, Irving; Farmer, Wilkinson; Brown, Nott, Wilkins, Duckworth, Guy, Riches, Close-Smith, Webb.
Replacements: Ardis, Kime, Stromsted, Morley, Thomas, Quig, Phillips.
Scorers: 3min Webb try - Farmer con (0-7), 12 penalty try (7-7), 13 Wilkinson try (7-12), 19 Boothroyd try - Boothroyd con (14-12), 35 Boxall try - Boothroyd con (21-12), 41 Webb try - Farmer con (21-19), 50 Wilkinson try - Farmer con (21-26), 69 Bell try - Boothroyd con (28-26).
Player of the Match: Izzy Boothroyd (Jesus)
Forward of the Match: Emily Bell (Fitzwilliam)
Back of the Match: Karla Boxall (Newnham)