Oxford run riot

Dark Blues secure biggest Varsity win in 28 years at Twickenham Stoop.

Last updated: 6th March 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Oxford run riot

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Oxford powered away with the Varsity rugby league match, securing their biggest win over Cambridge in 28 years.

The Dark Blues produced some breath-taking rugby to run in seven tries to two at the Twickenham Stoop to cut Cambridge's overall lead in the event to 15-12 with one match drawn.

Cambridge may have dominated the early stages, but they had no answer to Oxford's clinical finishing led by winger James Batstone.

Batstone flew in for two long-range tries, both largely against the run of play, inside the opening 20 minutes.

A 50-metre try from centre Tom Waterfield extended Oxford's advantage just before half time to make it 16-0.

Three further tries in the first 12 minutes of the second half saw Oxford power out of sight of a shell-shocked Cambrudge who were given a real lesson.

Full-back Charlie Morris touched down two minutes into the second half, Will Avery, Tom Muir and Tim Carpenter combined to get second rower Danny O'Driscoll over and centre Pete Forster profited from a handling error to score a solo try to make it 32-0.

The Light Blues salvaged some pride in the final quarter with tries from substitutes Alfy Weston and Ian Whiskerd and a goal from George Sykes.

But Oxford finished in control with substitute Hugh McCormick scoring a seventh try and Muir taking his goal tally to five from seven attempts.