Cambridge claim Varsity glory

Light Blues triumph for fouth time in five years

Last updated: 10th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Cambridge claim Varsity glory

Cambridge celebrate Varsity victory

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Four tries in 18 second-half minutes put Cambridge on the road to a thrilling 31-27 victory over old foes Oxford in the 128th Varsity match at Twickenham.

It was the Light Blues' fourth win in the last five years and atoned for their agonising 33-29 defeat 12 months ago.

A topsy-turvy encounter saw the lead change hands no fewer than five times between the 47th and 62nd minutes, but it was Cambridge who ultimately came out on top as they outscored their rivals five tries to three.

Full-back Jimmy Richards, winger James Greenwood, fly-half Ross Broadfoot, lock Will Jones and substitute Jamie Hood all touched down for the victors, while scrum-half Nick Haydon and centre Alex Cheeseman scored for Oxford who were also awarded a penalty try.

The free-scoring second-half, which yielded 46 points, was in start contrast to the first which was a scrappy affair with scoring chances at something of a premium.

Cambridge number ten Broadfoot spurned the only real scoring opportunity of the first quarter as he booted a 35-metre penalty wide of the mark and it was Oxford who were on the board first on 33 minutes as referee Dean Richards gave a penalty try after the Light Blues scrum disintegrated - Ross Swanton adding the extras from in front of the posts.

Cambridge quickly responded as a break from the strong-running Jimmy Richards set up Greenwood for a chance he did not waste.

That flurry of action set the tone for the second period with both sides serving up a feast of running rugby punctuated by some fine tries.

But it was Cambridge who deservedly came out on top as they earned bragging rights over the old enemy.