Rugby

There are only three games left for the Rugby Blues match before their early December clash with Oxford University at Twickenham. Next Wednesday at Grange Road is the traditional Steele Bodgers match where Cambridgewill throw down the gaunlet to their old rivals and challenge them to the match next month. For this tradition alone, the Blues are anticipating getting 3,000-4,000 spectators down to Grange Road, which itself reflects the importance of the Varsity Rugby match to the students of Cambridge. The Blues are looking good ahead of the next month’s clash, but there are several injury concerns for captain Jimmy Richards. The Blues need Greg Cushing to be fully fit to take up his role as first choice fly half, and Ben Maidment, ex of London Wasps, is currently struggling for full fitness. Dan Vickerman is certainly not going to be playing at Twickenham having had an operation on his knee.

Lacrosse

The Cambridge Women’s Lacrosse team continued their excellent season by notching up yet another comfortable victory. This week it was Exeter who were put to the sword despite putting out a relatively strong first team. It was the strongest team the Lacrosse Blues had to face so far this year and despite a shaky start they comfortably dealt with whatever Exeter had to throw at them. Goals from ex-captain Ellie Walshe kept the scoreboard ticking over. Exeter performed better in the second period of play, but some excellent goalkeeping restricted them to scoring more than six goals, not nearly enough when Cambridge were in such potent attacking form.

Rowing

Russian Justice minister Alexander Konovalov rowed with the Blues squad on Wednesday. Mr Konovalov went out in a boat directed by the Blues’ head coach Donald Legget. It was a welcome relief to the Blues squad after a relatively disappointing performance over the Thames between Mortlake and Putney. The Cambridge Elite coxed four (consiting of Rasmussen, Nash, Cubasch and Nelson) finished the course over three seconds behind the Oxford crew. Oxford also managed to win the Elite coxless four category. Although it is not fair to judge either crew based on the fours race, it can certainly be suggested that currently Oxford have a psychological advantage going into the Christmas break.