The Women's Blues beat Oxford 28-16 last Wednesday
What’s happened at Grange Road this week:
It’s been a fantastic week of rugby at CURUFC as the women’s Blues beat Oxford 28-26 in their BUCS Premier South match last Wednesday. If you haven’t read it yet, you can find the match report on our website here. We can’t wait to see how they go at StoneX on March 2nd. Elsewhere the Men's Blues had a rest week while the LX Club lost at home to UEA in their BUCS league.
This week we have a veritable feast of rugby coming up. Tomorrow on Weds 31st Jan, the Men’s Blues return to action against the RAF under the floodlights at Grange Road at 7.30pm, kicking off their Armed Forces trilogy of games. Meanwhile the Women’s Blues continue their league action against Brunel University at 2.00pm. The LX will be taking on Loughborough University at the Queens College pitches at 1.30pm. As ever, we’d love to have you down to watch.
Last Thursday we had the annual Men’s Forwards Dinner where a few former Blues came back to chat to the current team about their CURUFC and Varsity experiences and we’ll have the Backs version at Hawk’s this Thursday too.
A Varsity Anniversary:
This year we’ll be celebrating 40 years since a light blue team packed with international legends such as Rob Andrew and Gavin Hastings took on an Oxford side captained by British Lion Hugo McNeil. The team are having a reunion at the Varsity Matches on March 2nd to commemorate their win. This week we spoke to CURUFC’s Rob Heginbotham about the 1984 Varsity Match:
Saturday 2nd March will see members of the victorious 1984 light blue side and their other halves gather at StoneX to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their 32-6 victory which remains the largest victory over “The Other Place” since the 1925-26 season.
It should also be remembered that tries were also only worth 4 points back then, so the 6 tries scored in 1984 would look even more impressive today. It was Tony Rodger’s 5th win on the bounce since he took over the coaching reins in 1980, a run which was sadly stopped by Oxford the following year by the narrowest of margins; 7 - 6.
Cambridge went into the match as hot-favourites after a strong term where the likes of Cardiff, Harlequins, London Scottish, Richmond and Bedford had all been despatched, but the margin of victory against an Oxford side captained by Irish and British Lions legend Hugo McNeil surprised even the players themselves.
The side featured many players who would go on to win international honours, most notably Rob Andrew at fly-half, soon to make his full England debut in 1985, and Gavin Hastings, Scotland and British Lions legend, whose first cap arrived in 1986. Captain Mark Bailey on the wing had already won his first cap for England while centres Fran Clough & Kevin Simms and back-row forward Ian Morrison all went on to be capped by their country. Several others played many times for England or Wales “A”.
The side gelled together excellently in the Spring term under our inspirational captain Mark Bailey although he had to sit out most of the Michaelmas term with a persistent injury but he managed to make it back for Twickenham.
The Varsity match itself was set alight after only 3 minutes when running fly-half Rob Andrew attacked from his own 22 and, after a flowing series of passes and side-steps, Kevin Simms scored the first of the 6 tries, each of which was scored by a different backs! Two further tries quickly followed and at 16-0 after 20 minutes, an all-time drubbing for the Dark Blues looked on the cards.
Rob Andrew makes a break, with Sean O Leary in support
However, after a few more Cambridge chances went amiss, Oxford improved and the game entered the final quarter at 16-6. By this stage though, the Other Place had given their all just to stay in the game, and 3 further light blue tries followed in quick succession, the most notable featuring the ball in play for nearly 2 minutes before Fran Clough went in under the posts. Nigel Starmer-Smith, breathless on commentary, exclaimed, “incredible - some seriously fit men on show here!” , which was a great testament to our fitness coach, the legendary Dr Turner who, as a former champion cross country runner used to take us for team runs around Llamas Land. It was a nightmare for props but the pain was well worth it!!
Cambridge full back Gavin Hastings challenges Oxford wing Rupert Vessey for the ball in the air at Twickenham
You can watch a clip of Gavin Hastings scoring a try in the corner on The Varsity Matches Facebook page here. We also managed to get a few quotes from some of the players in the side.
Rob Andrew: “Having won for the previous 2 years, there was a sense that we could put something special together in 1984, and I was personally very keen to finish my CURUFC career on a high - and we certainly managed that. Cambridge was where it all really started for me, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that it opened up.”
Gavin Hastings: “I had played some Scotland B games before coming to Cambridge, but the level of fitness, intensity and commitment that I experienced for the first time in 1984 was up another level from that. It was a magical day and year, which sadly we couldn’t repeat in 1985, but Cambridge provided me with so many lifelong friends, a unique experience, and launched my full international career. I also got the worst nick-name of the lot from Tony - “Bird Brain” - though thankfully that has not stuck outside Cambridge circles.”
Mark Bailey: "Having watched most of the Autumn term games from the touchline with injury, I was just delighted to make it onto the pitch at Twickenham and somehow last the full 80 minutes. The 1984 side was really the culmination of a great 5 years for Cambridge, and the most satisfying aspect was the manner of victory and the open style of play. I was lucky to captain an exceptional group of players hungry to make a statement, and I am delighted that we still see each other regularly."
We all hope that the 1984 side have a fabulous reunion and that they can celebrate with a Light Blue triumph from the current vintage.
We’re hoping that both Blues teams channel the 1984 spirit and come home with victories on March 2nd at the StoneX. As ever if you’d like to buy tickets you can do so below:
1. Past players
2. CURUFC Members & Supporters
3. Students
4. Hospitality
Coach tickets from Cambridge can be bought here and parking passes are also available.
We’ll be back next week with more updates and a chance for you to meet this Men’s Blues Team and hear how they’ve been getting on.