Oxford claim Varsity glory

Oxford claimed back-to-back Varsity successes for the first time in a decade as they saw off Cambridge 28-10 in a hugely entertaining encounter at Twickenham.

The Dark Blues led by just three points at the break but a stirring second-half showing ensured they secured a well-deserved victory in front of more than 27,000 fans.

Tries from prop Will Kane, man-of-the-match Karl Outen and fly-half Tom Mitchell saw Oxford home, with Mitchell’s sniping run effectively putting the game to bed with 10 minutes remaining.

Led by inspirational No8 John Carter, who heads into retirement on a huge high,Oxford keptCambridge to just a converted penalty try and an early Steve Townend three pointer asCambridge captain Matt Guinness-King saw his own career come to an end on a frustrating note.

The third-biggest attendance for any club game in Britain and Ireland this season lived up to its’ billing as the most prestigious amateur match in the world as the students proved that professional rugby isn’t the only type of rugby worth shouting about in the modern age.

Cambridge opened the scoring courtesy of a Townend penalty with the game just three minutes old but it was Oxford who were celebrating the first try four minutes later.

Captain Carter stole lineout ball deep in Cambridge territory and what followed next was an early indicator of the clinical nature of Oxford’s overall performance. Cassian Bramham-Law’s deft offload to full back Jon Hudson took play to within a metre of the Cambridge line before tight head Kane powered over in the very next phase.

Bramham-Law sent over a superb conversion from 10 metres in from the right touchline to put his team 7-3 to the good before raising hopes of a repeat of last year’s 21-10 triumph with a 17th-minute penalty.

Controversy followed with just over a quarter of the game gone as referee Dave Pearson called upon his TMO to rule on a potential try for Cambridge. Tom O’Toole’s hack ahead looked to have been claimed by scrum-half Donald Blake but the ball squirmed loose as he attempted to pick up just two metres short. Both O’Toole and blindside flanker Ben Martin raced towards the rolling ball but a sensational effort from Hudson saw him get the crucial touch underneath his own posts.

The disappointment of that ruling didn’t last long for the Light Blues, though, as they were awarded a penalty try at the resulting scrum. With Carter off the field receiving treatment for a blooded eye following a punch from opposite number Dave Allen, Cambridge powered towards the line and were only halted when Oxford dropped the scrum illegally right under Pearson’s nose.

Townend added the simple extras from straight in front and Cambridge were back on level terms with 22 minutes on the clock.

The scores stayed the same until a minute before the half-hour mark when a third successful strike from Bramham-Law saw Oxford retake the lead. Cambridge second row Scott Annett was pulled up for a high tackle on Oxford vice captain Outen and the prolific left wing made no mistake from 35 metres out.

Leading 13-10 at half-time, Oxford started the second period in the same manner that they began the first as Outen surged over for a 47th-minute score.

Having seen Cambridge dominate the tight-five battle in the opening 40 minutes, Oxford produced the perfect riposte as a driving lineout brought the ultimate reward. Former Cardiff Medic Tom Evans claimed possession 15 metres out, the remainder of the pack pushed onwards and Outen peeled off as Cambridge crumbled.

Bramham-Law missed the near touchline conversion for the first blot on his kicking copybook and a second failure followed on 53 minutes as he sent a similarly difficult penalty attempt narrowly wide.

The ex-Weybridge Vandals kicker did taste success once more as the game headed towards the hour, however, as Cambridge tight head Will Briggs was caught offside in his own 22.

Cambridge struggled to gain a foothold in the half as Oxford remained on top in terms of both territory and possession and it was the holders who crossed the line for a final time with just under 70 minutes played.

Mitchell showed his speed off the mark and eye for a gap to go with the distribution skills that had caused Cambridge plenty of problems as he slipped through replacement centre Mat Thomas’ despairing tackle 10 metre out.

The celebrations that followed suggested the result was no longer in doubt and Bramham-Law’s straight forward conversion simply confirmed that assertion on 71 minutes.

Cambridge never gave hope of salvaging something from the season’s showpiece but, in truth, they never looked like closing the gap as Oxford held firm in defence despite the three-score cushion.