Cambridge continue to make a mockery of their place in the second tier of the BUCS Rugby league. This time it was Warwick University who failed to register points against the dominant Light Blues.

At least at first, Warwick’s forwards looked a match for their Cambridge counterparts. The Blues were limited in attack, relying on constant recycling after two or three yard gains in each phase. But Cambridge kept their discipline and were rewarded for a spark of invention in the tenth minute as captain Talia Gershon emerged from the chaos caused by a Cambridge kick behind the Warwick line and went through for the first try of the match.

Although Warwick lacked imagination in attack and never threatened to score, throughout the match Cambridge had to work hard to prize open their solid defence.  But Cambridge did what they do best: they dominated possession and especially territory, made few errors, and were generally selective in choosing when to kick and when to run. The forwards were efficient and powerful, led by an unassuming but excellent contribution from Emily Matthews who turned many stationary stand-offs into effective driving mauls.

Cambridge’s scoring opportunities emerged from this solid foundation.  Kate Robson touched down in the 23rd minute, Cambridge switching play inside after stretching Warwick down the left of the field. The space created by a Cambridge scrum ten minutes later afforded winger, Hazel Chimer, to outsprint the Warwick back line down the right.

Cambridge continued to pile on points in the second half, the rattled Warwick backs simply flinging the ball in hope rather than picking out passes, and Chimer claimed a second, a third and a fourth in the last ten minutes.

Despite Chimer’s four tries, Kate Robson was the star performer and a revelation at outside centre. Her link-up play with inside centre Laura Britton was telepathic, her running was forceful and direct, and her tackling was so hard and quick that in the second-half the Warwick backs were flapping to get rid of the ball before taking the hit from Cambridge’s season top-scorer. Not surprising perhaps after she had put the opposing inside centre out of action with a broken nose.

Coaches “Roo” Hanrahan and Andy Ireland were not at all surprised that their Blues side registered another easy win. Ireland explained the Blues’ unbeaten record: “We spend eighty percent of time in training on tackling and rucking and it’s clearly paying off.” Having described Warwick as “the real test” a fortnight ago after cruising past Bedford, it is plain to Hanrahan that Cambridge are out of place in this division. Asked if the league was a big enough test, he was unequivocal: “No. And if the University would give our players Wednesdays off and the funding we need then we would be in the Premier division. These girls are not getting the standard of rugby they deserve.”