British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Netball Midlands 1A league champions Cambridge will look to avenge a narrow 37–34 defeat to rivals Oxford in last year’s Varsity fixture when they go head to head with the Dark Blues at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre this weekend.

The Light Blues put the cherry on the top of a stunning league season with a convincing 57–30 victory away to Birmingham University 2nds on the 8th of this month.  

The Light Blues roared into an early lead against the hosts, finding themselves up 20–4, and were already out of sight. goal attack Frances Lee-Barber particularly caught the eye, finding the net with every single shot she took in the opening stages.  

Bolstered by an outstanding performance by fresher Sophie Maitland at centre, and some brilliant forward play from wing attack Becky Haggie, Cambridge almost doubled their advantage by half time, and with their new diamond defensive formation held together expertly by Lucy Gumbiti-Zimuto, Charlotte Plumtree and captain Hayley Smith, they kept Birmingham at arm’s length for the rest of the afternoon.

Setting up shop in the final quarter, vice-captain Tara Phillips’ move from goal shooter to wing defence kept a relegation-battling Birmingham at bay as they looked desperately to turn the contest on its head. But it wasn’t to be for the Midlanders as a 57–30 victory secured the title for the Light Blues, who have won every single league fixture they have played this season with an overall goal difference of 155 – more than five times that of the second-placed Nottingham Trent.

Cambridge now looks ahead to a play-off to secure promotion to the National Premier League, which they have not played in since the 2004/2005 season.  

But first, there’s a small matter of a Varsity Match to look forward to for the Light Blues. Oxford, who have had a season remarkably similar to Cambridge – winning their Midlands 2A league with seven victories, one defeat and a goal difference of over 200. And having beaten their rivals in this fixture last year, the Dark Blues will certainly fancy their chances.  But without the comfort of home territory, Oxford could be in for a tough time when the first centre pass is made at 1:30 pm, this Saturday 25th February at the University Sports Centre.

In the pick of the weekend’s other Varsity showdowns, the men’s lacrosse Blues will want to put last year’s shock 7–4 defeat behind them when they take on Oxford on St John’s pitches at 2 pm this Saturday, followed by the women’s Blues, who won their fixture convincingly last year, who will begin their Varsity defence at 2.30 pm.

The Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club will dive into a day of Varsity action from 12 pm on Saturday at the Cambridge Parkside Pool, meanwhile this Sunday the Cambridge University Basketball Club will take on Oxford on the centre court of the University Sports Centre, the women’s Blues tipping off at 2 pm and the men’s Blues at 4.15 pm