Light Blues cruise past Oxford

Oxford 16 Cambridge 31

It was the highest points total by a winning team in the fixture for 20 years, and Oxford could have no complaints after Cambridge ran in five tries, including two from their South African prop Rudi Bosch.

Cambridge trailed 9-5 at half-time, but once their forwards stepped up a gear Oxford had no real answer.

“You can get drawn into the trap of Varsity Matches and go into your shell, but it was win or bust for us today,” said Australian Carter.

“To lose two players through injury and go 6-0 down after just nine minutes meant it couldn’t have been a worse start for us, but when we stopped trying to play to the crowd and put some pressure on Oxford things started to change.”

Apart from his try double, Bosch had the dubious distinction of becoming the first player to be sin-binned in Varsity Match history, but referee Wayne Barnes also brandished yellow cards to Oxford prop Sean Brophy and Cambridge flanker Nic Alberts in the second half.

Critically, when Brophy was off the field for 10 minutes Cambridge scored two converted tries.

Bosch apart, Cambridge scored tries through Alberts, lock Andrew Clements and wing David Akinluyi, while fly-half Jon Ufton kicked three conversions and controlled the game expertly.

“It means so much to everyone involved,” said former Wasps player Ufton. “It is a truly unique feeling in rugby because it is just one game and it means so much.

Oxford centre James Whittingham kicked three penalties and converted a late penalty try for the Dark Blues as they relinquished the trophy they won with a late try last season.

OXFORD: A Knox; J Boto, A James, J Whittingham, T Tombleson; J Fennell, K Brennan; P Laffin, A Dalgleish (capt), S Brophy; R Graham, A Harris; D Abbott, D Palm, J Jones.

Replacements: D Rosen, R Matthews/M Street, C Hadfield, J Bucknall, P Jenkins, S Fauth, R Lavery.

CAMBRIDGE: I McInroy; C Desmond, J Ansbro, E Carter (capt), D Akinluyi; J Ufton, R Evans; R Bosch, J Clark, E Kalman; J Blaikie, A Clements; N Alberts, D O’Brien, M Harfoot.

Replacements: T Woolsey, T Kirkman, A Gilbert, R Bartholomew, C Worsley, S Thomas, P Magee.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU).