Women crash out to Oxford in their Varsity Match

In a game that went to the final few minutes the Light Blues just lost out on a win

A. Jackson Cambridge push up the pitch in a surging attack but their flowing hockey was not enough to clinch a win

On Tuesday March 2nd the Women’s Hockey Blues played their annual Varsity match against Oxford. The result, a 3-2 loss, did not reflect an extremely high standard of hockey from Cambridge, which kept all the supporters highly entertained.

 The match began dramatically with Oxford winning a short corner, which created a worryingly early opportunity for them to score. However, Cambridge were put at ease as the straight strike from Oxford was skilfully saved by Vicky Evans. After a few further exciting minutes of play, Cambridge then also managed to win a short. This was brilliantly executed, but unfortunately the Light Blues failed to score as the ball was lifted above the backboard. The hit-out was then taken quickly by Oxford, and a valiant attempt to slow the progress of attack resulted in a temporary injury for Sarah Baggs, who was replaced by Alice Ferguson. Oxford’s passing sequence was ultimately successful, and although the first strike was competently saved by Vicky Evans, the rebound resulted in a goal. In true Cambridge spirit, the team did not remain down for long, and in a short time Jenny Hall had used her incredible skills to dodge the defenders and strike a beautiful goal to equalise.

In the wake of this confident come-back, there were several great passages of play from Cambridge, including an impressive run by the Captain up half the pitch, followed by an excellent cross to Jess Hume, who was in exactly the right place to receive it. Unfortunately this play was broken up by an effective tackle from Oxford, but the resulting counter-attack only gave Evans another chance to shine with a brilliant save, followed by an amazingly timed tackle and swift clearance by Rachel Barraclough.

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Another highlight of the first half was a speedy break by Rebecca Langton up the right wing, which left the Oxford defenders far behind, and single-handedly gained considerable ground for Cambridge. Unfortunately this pressure from attack did not have the desired effect, as the Light Blues subsequently managed to score off another short just before half-time.

The second half began with a renewed energy and great determination from Cambridge, who scored from a seemingly effortless slip under the arm within the first couple of minutes. This was the result of a particularly perceptive pass from Jess Hume into a space for Jenny Hall to run onto and take into the D. The first-rate passing continued, including some great sequences between Mel Addy, Charlotte Brearley and Jess Hume. There were also numerous hopeful attacks engineered by Rebecca Langton and Jenny Hall, whose speed up the wings was far superior to their opposition. In defence, there was some equally outstanding play including several crucial and well-judged tackles at the top of the D by Alice Ferguson, one-on-one channelling by Eleanor Wiseman, and a bravely executed aerial from Ruth Graham to Sarah Baggs at the sixteen-yard hit-out. At one point Ruth Graham also demonstrated some particularly admirable sportsmanship by handing back the opposition’s stick after it flew out of their hands!

The game was closely fought till the end, and to say that Oxford’s goal in the last five minutes was unlucky is an understatement. Jenny Hall was awarded player of the match, although each member of the team should be equally congratulated for their contribution. It is certainly safe to say Cambridge were robbed of a well-deserved victory, if not merely a draw, in the last five minutes of play.