Despite what traditionalists might try to say, Sunday was not a day for rugby, and certainly not the fast-paced, free-flowing, fleet-footed variety of the game.  As the rain and sleet hammered down, the Cambridge Blues hosted La Castagnet, an Argentinean touring side, ultimately going down 13-0 in what was one of the day’s four fixtures for the rugby club.

The conditions ensured a particularly scrappy match, with slips, knock-ons and turnovers from both sides aplenty.  However, the two teams must be given credit for repeatedly spurning the chance to kick three points in the hunt for tries.  Indeed, with the scores deadlocked after a relatively uninspiring fifteen minutes livened only by one piece of good link play by Stevens and O’Toole, La Castagnet opted to kick for the corner when the conditions would ordinarily have dictated a shot at goal.  Their ambition was duly rewarded with a typically Argentinean catch and drive leading to a 5-0 advantage.  The rest of the first half saw the visitors camped in the Blues half, with only booted clearances providing any relief.  Nevertheless, a resolute home defence held until the interval provided a chance to warm numb fingers.

The change of ends saw the Blues now enjoying the lion-share of the possession.  However, as the weather worsened, productive play was hard to come by, even by the two teams’ packs, with Don Blake aside providing some bright play.  Rucks became unsightly entanglements of limbs, whilst it was even becoming difficult for both spectator and player to discern between the two mud-plastered kits.  A penalty managed to extend the visitors’ lead to eight as a Blues’ try remained elusive, with a lost lineout on the opposition five metre and covering tackle on Stevens a similar distance from the try line the closest the home side came.  Finally, a break from the La Castagnet scrum half saw him dart through the Cambridge fringes and over the white wash.

13-0 remained the score until the referee mercifully signalled the end of the match, allowing the players respite from the weather.  It was a rather unsatisfactory, if not hard-working, end to the Blues’ season after the match against Penguin RFC scheduled for Wednesday evening was cancelled due to the state of the pitch.