Australia’s oldest district rugby club dramatically overcame Cambridge’s second-half surge to seize a thrilling 28-29 victory. After 24 minutes of initial stalemate, the tourists unleashed a flurry of first-half tries and subsequently enjoyed a lead until the 73rd minute – when Cam Martin’s stunning solo try appeared to have sealed a sensational Cambridge comeback.

Having found themselves staring down 0-17 and 14-24 deficits, the Blues spun the game on its head through their backs’ creativity, silkiness and speed, supported by an inspired and physical forward pack. A reeling Eastern Suburbs – who have been breeding Australian international stars since 1903 – were never going to fully subside however, and they fashioned a decisive try just two minutes from the final whistle to win by a single point.

It was a game defined by contrast; a Down Under-dominated opening forty minutes followed by a light blue renaissance, in a duality that was likely symptomatic of the two team’s vastly different starting points. Cambridge came into the game fresh faced and feeling their way into the season, with just 5 returning Blues in the squad and one match played this autumn. Their Sydney-based competition, meanwhile, were on post-season gallivant of England and Ireland after reaching the Sydney Premiership Grand Final in August; unused squad members swigging pints on the sidelines.

“A down-under-dominated opening forty minutes followed by a light blue renaissance”

Barely 180 seconds into proceedings, Cambridge thought they had snatched an early advantage, only for an awarded try to be swiftly chalked off for going into touch. Irritation quickly dissolved into danger as Eastern Sydney set about making inroads of their own, forcing the light blues to demonstrate impressive defensive resolve, holding up a hefty driving maul before last-ditch tackling halted another surge to the line moments later. A stifled Eastern Suburbs then frequently sought to unlock the light blues with a highly aggressive kicking game but were thwarted throughout by Cambridge’s faultless handling and brilliant George Bland counter kicks.

The Sydneysiders’ sustained pressure could only be withstood for so long, and in the 24th minute a sucked-in light blue defence eventually yielded to an incisive scrum half pass, with Angus Duff cooly notching the game’s first score. A 7-0 lead quickly became a 12-point advantage as Eastern Suburbs utilised fast-moving phases and rapid recycles to fashion an opening for Dougal Payne to batter through. Cambridge came close to landing a counterpunch through a steal and piercing solo run excellently supported by James Murray, who was stifled mere metres from the line – yet it was Eastern Suburbs who dealt the match’s third decisive blow. Having kicked a penalty flush into the corner, the tourists piled their backs into an all-out driving maul and bulldozed their way to a 17-0 lead.

On the cusp of half time, Eastern Suburb’s territorial and scoreboard stranglehold was beginning to loom large, until Cambridge critically broke it in one outstanding phase. Penetrating passes off a scrum at the halfway line found the fleet-footed Nathan Bottomley, who ran home a pivotal try for the Blues. Bland’s ensuing conversion deepened Cambridge’s foothold with what was the last touch of the opening 40.

Those seven points became a second-half springboard; the Blues emerged from the break rejuvenated and raring to slash Eastern Suburb’s lead. Time passing seemed to bolster the light blues – playing only their second game of the season – and they came to dominate possession as their backs turned up the swagger. Ben Barlow’s devious dummy almost had the tourists in a tailspin, and Ben Cooke began to marshal the game through a quick-witted and formidable performance at number nine. The light blues’ owed their second try to his scrum half smarts; from a ruck Cooke spotted and found Ollie East’s run with a razor-sharp pass, allowing the winger to whizz 30 yards to the line. It was the culmination of a marked momentum shift; the score now a more finely balanced 14-17.

Discontent then began to brew on the Eastern Suburbs bench, substitutes questioning why tries hadn’t been easier to come by. The Sydneysiders responded with two answers, the first being: “You went to bed at 4:30 last night mate,” and the second coming on the pitch. 62 minutes in, and the tourists started to pound away at the Cambridge line through numerous forward drives, before a perfectly executed piece of creativity yielded their fourth try. A cheeky cross-field kick picked out Charlie Cooper, whose fast feet secured a 24-14 advantage.

“A phenomenal kick and chase that ignited the Grange Road gloom”

At a point where the pendulum could have so easily swung back to Eastern Suburbs, Cambridge struck back almost instantly. Charlie Cross’s booming run broke the tackle and a superb supporting run from Cam Martin allowed the light blues to secure a third try. A third successful conversion from Bland’s ever-reliable boots left Cambridge trailing by just three points. The unrelenting physicality of the Blues’ forwards foiled Eastern Suburb’s attempted fightback, exemplified by the blood that was streaming out of the visiting loosehead’s nose.

Almost 50 minutes after falling behind, Cam Martin whipped up a moment of rugby magic to give the light blues a deserved lead with just six minutes remaining. The showstopping substitute picked up the ball inside his own 22, danced his way past several tackles and then stuck on the afterburners, before outwitting the final two defenders with a phenomenal kick and chase that ignited the Grange Road gloom. The crowd was in raptures, and at 28-24 it was advantage Cambridge.

Some teams cower in the face of brilliance, great teams respond in kind. Eastern Suburbs have won over 80 premiership titles and shields in their storied history, and in the 78th minute the Sydneysiders set up an ominous rolling maul, paving the way for Henry Hyde to bludgeon over a match-winning try. Cambridge will be left hurt but heartened; the pain of a one-point loss must not detract from a fantastic fightback against one of the icons of Australian rugby.