A hat-trick from Tim Catling handed Oxford University bragging rights as they defeated Cambridge 33-29 at Twickenham.
Japanese student inspires Dark Blues at Twickenham
A clinical display of finishing from hat-trick hero Tim Catling handed Oxford University Varsity bragging rights as they defeated Cambridge 33-29 at Twickenham.
Catling crossed the line three times in 29 first half minutes, scores which proved decisive as Cambridge failed to claw back a 33-15 deficit despite a spirited second half showing.
When Oxford captain Peter Clarke powered over in the 49th minute and Tom Gregory added the conversion, Cambridge looked destined for defeat as they lay 18 points adrift.
However, second half tries from Niall Conlon, Joe Wheeler and James Wellwood set-up a dramatic final four minutes, but Oxford clung on to win their first Varsity match since 2004.
The majority of the early stages were littered with errors as nerves understandably got the better of both sets of players with penalties given away at regular intervals.
Pressure
Both Gregory and James Richards missed opportunites with the boot before Catling opened the scoring on six minutes with a powerful burst down the left wing.
Despite the setback, it took the Light Blues just four minutes to respond. A spell of concerted pressure was eventually rewarded as Richards crossed from close range and converted his own score.
Strong scrummaging from Oxford - pushed on by former All Black Anton Oliver - saw them awarded another penalty soon after, and Gregory finally struck over his first points of the day to put the Dark Blues 8-7 ahead.
The infringements continued flow and Richards and Gregory exchanged penalties to keep the Dark Blues marginally ahead.
After a prolonged spell of Cambridge pressure it was Oxford who got the next score and it was a telling one. Catling snatched his and the Dark Blues' second try of the match when he wreaked more havoc on the left wing - leaving James Greenwood in his wake before touching down.
Things went from bad to worse for Cambridge moments later, full-back Richards sin-binned for cynically bringing down Catling off the ball before the same man then completed his hat-trick as Oxford capitalised on their one-man advantage.
A dream first half for the Dark Blues' Japanese student saw Oxford go into half-time 25-10 ahead with Cambridge facing an uphill struggle to make it four Varsity wins on the spin.
Comeback
As the second half resumed, so too did the attacking masterclass from Catling.
The former London Irish Academy player won another penalty for his side after cynically being obstructed off the ball and Gregory blasted over another three points.
However, even with their one-man disadvantage, Cambridge refused to surrender and Conlon bulldozed his way over the line for the Light Blues' second score soon after.
Just as Cambridge sensed a route back into the match, Oxford No.8 Peter Wright broke the gameline before timing his pass to captain Clarke to perfection.
The Blues skipper had just enough pace to collect the ball and make it over the try line and extend the Dark Blues' lead to 33-15 with half an hour remaining.
Time certainly was on Cambridge's side to mount a comeback, and the points continued to come through thick and fast when Wheeler burrowed his way over the line and Richards added the extras.
The Light Blues, spurred on by their passionate supporters, huffed and puffed without any reward for the next 20 minutes, but Wellwood's converted score with four minutes remaining made it 33-29.
However, Oxford held on in a tense finish and celebrated one of the most dramatic Varsity wins in the history of the illustrious spectacle.
