Rugby: Another blue day for Oxford

Oxford University 22 Cambridge University 2

6

Oxford have now gone five years without winning the University match. But if that is becoming a tradition, so too is the enterprising, open style of play typified by this year's game at Richmond Athletic Ground last night, writes Dave Hadfield.

Oxford started well, taking the lead with a penalty from Sam Whittaker and regaining it after Neil Thwaites' well-constructed try for Cambridge, when their Great Britain squad winger, Jon Parker, went over.

But Cambridge gradually assumed control, with their centres, Buster Cheetham and Iain Higgins, stretching Oxford's defence. A long pass from Jonathan Griffiths, a substitute having gained a full rugby union Blue for Cambridge and played league for Paris, released Cheetham after 2 minutes and his ball sent James Flood around the outside of the defence for a try, converted by Thwaites.

On the half-hour, the probing work of their hooker, Nick Perry, set up another try for the Light Blues, their stand-off, Rob Pendlebury, going over and Thwaites again converting.

Although the game seemed to be slipping away from them, Oxford showed determination, carving out several opportunities before their captain, Mark Gartside, battled his way over in injury time before the break.

Oxford even regained the lead through Brian Molyneux, before Cambridge's pair of centres took centre stage once more. Cheetham took Dave Green's pass to score and then Higgins scythed his way through for a brilliant individual effort.

Oxford came back yet again through Whittaker, who hit the post with his attempt to convert his own try. That was Oxford's last chance to register points as Cambridge hung on to continue their recent dominance.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY: Farmer (Pembroke); Ramsbottom (St Catherine's), Whittaker (Worcester), Molyneux (St Catherine's), Parker (King's); Hull (Queen's), Park (St Peter's); Aldwinkle, Jones (both Balliol), Stevens (Pembroke), Hobart (Keble), Mullins (Queen's), Gartside (St Hugh's). Substitutes: Westcott (Balliol), Brichieri-Colombi (Keble), Yarrow (St Cross), Harrison (Balliol).

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY: Thwaites (Jesus); Fulton, Cheetham (both St Catharine's), Higgins (Emmanuel), Flood (Peterhouse); Pendlebury (Homerton), Green (St Catharine's); Davis (Homerton), Perry (Peterhouse), Stacey (Trinity), Gulliford (Caius), Cocks (St Edmund's), Holmes (Peterhouse). Substitutes: Whitaker (St Catharine's), Griffiths (St Edmund's), Jarvis (Christ's), Brown (Downing).

Referee: D Hilton (Blackburn).