It’s that time of year again: when two terms of rigorous training, self-denial and meticulous preparation culminate in a showdown against the ‘Other Place’ for many Cambridge sports teams. Grammatically ambiguous cries of ‘Shoe the Tabs!’ can already be heard echoing from that institution, perhaps fuelled by a crippling sense of inferiority induced by a glance at any university league table. Varsity matches provide the perfect opportunity to cement Cambridge’s superiority with sporting success, and silence our noisy neighbours for another year.

The first face-off this year is the Volleyball Varsity match, taking place deep inside enemy territory at Iffley Road Sports Centre, Oxford, on Saturday 20th February. There will be Blues and Seconds matches for both men and women, spread over the day. Both Cambridge’s Men’s and Women’s Blues will be hoping to avenge their respective losses last year, as Oxford brushed them aside 3-0 in each match. The Men’s Blues will take optimism from the fact that each of those three sets last year was extremely close (26-24, 25-23, 29-27), making for an intriguing clash this year. Saturday also marks the day of the Varsity Squash Match, with both Men’s and Women’s Blues competing at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London. Again, Cambridge will be out for revenge, with the Men’s Blues having lost a closely fought encounter 2-3 last year. The Women’s Blues, however, triumphed in straight sets at the same venue last year, and will be hoping to repeat the feat this time around.
Sunday 28th gives slightly more niche teams the chance to brutalise Oxford, in a physical as well as a metaphorical sense, for Cambridge’s Judo team. Also at Iffley Road Sports Centre, the Judo Varsity will be comprised of First and Seconds men’s matches, as well as the women’s competition and one for City players, with matches starting in the afternoon.

A more aesthetic Varsity match will be played a week before, with Cambridge’s Cheerleading team, the Cambridge Cougars, competing against the Oxford Sirens at the Genting Arena, Birmingham, on Sunday 21st February. Having won their Varsity match three years in a row, the Cougars will be hoping to devour the Sirens once again.

Other action this weekend includes the 2s and 3s Hockey Varsity, before athletic attention turns to next weekend. Lacrosse, netball and the women’s football Varsities are all looming in the calendar, and will provide the perfect chance to continue our dominance over our perennial foes.

Varsity Fixture List 2016

20/02/16 - Volleyball
20/02/16 - Squash
21/02/16 - Cheerleading
21/02/16 - Hockey 2s/3s
27/02/16 - Netball
27/02/16 - Lacrosse
27/02/16 - Women’s Football
27/02/16 - Basketball
28/02/16 - Judo
28/02/16 - Ultimate Frisbee
28/02/16 - Korfball
28/02/16 - Tae Kwon Do
04/03/16 - Rugby League
04/03/16 - Badminton
05/03/16 - Boxing
05/03/16 - Football 2s/3s
06/03/16 - Hockey
06/03/16 - Karate
12/03/16 - Fencing
19/03/16 - Henley Boat Races