Submitted by Lauren Thomas on Tue, 17/12/2013 - 15:42
The game couldn't have started better for the Light Blues. After regaining the kick-off, a few phases later Angus Strachan cut a lovely line and then gave a perfectly timed pass to David Sparkhall who ran in the first try of the game with less than 5 minutes on the clock. Conversion missed 5 – 0 Cambridge.
George Williams was next to score with a penalty after some good work from the Cambridge forwards. 8 – 0 Cambridge.
A lack of concentration and a couple of penalties allowed Oxford to get back into the game with a rolling maul that ended in a try. Conversion missed, 8 – 5 Cambridge.
Some more hard work from the Light Blues pack set Williams up for another penalty kick at goal which he gladly took. 11 – 5 Cambridge.
The Cambridge backs were starting to rip the other team's back line apart, and a brilliant first phase move gave Strachan an easy run in. Conversion successful from Williams, 18 – 5 Cambridge.
From the kick-off, the Cambridge forwards gathered and set fly-half Williams up for the clearance kick, which he put high in the Twickenham sky. After a brilliant chase from his own kick, he stripped the ball from an Oxford player mid-air and immediately put Sparkhall away, who showed great pace to score from 50 metres. Conversion successful, 25 – 5 Cambridge.
HT Cambridge 25 – 5 Oxford.
The second half started well with the Light Blues dominating possession early on, and some good phases and well executed hands down the line gave George Smith an easy run in to the corner. An unsuccessful conversion gave Cambridge a 30 – 5 lead.
In the final 20 minutes of the match the fitness of the Light Blues started to wear thin and Oxford came back into the game scoring 2 converted tries making the score 30 – 19 with 10 minutes left.
Cambridge managed to hold on for the victory even with the sin binning of centre Jamie Crawford. The bench made a really good impact and helping to control the game in the dying minutes.
Congratulations to all involved and making it an experience to remember. The victory gave Cambridge the rugby series win over Oxford.
Tries: Sparkhall (2), Strachan, Smith
Conversions: Williams (2)
Penalties: Williams (2)