OXFORD (6) 26

Tries: Egerton, Harris, Marr

Cons: Marr

Pens: Bramham-Law 2, Marr

 

CAMBRIDGE (16) 19

Tries: Murdoch

Cons: Stephen

Pens: Stephen 4

Cambridge failed to hold to a first-half lead as a more experienced Oxford side mounted a spirited second-half comeback.

Cambridge went in ten points ahead at the break after Murdoch’s try and solid kicking from Stephen, but three second-half Oxford tries resulted in a dark blue victory for the third successive year.

Cambridge started brightly with some huge hits and two early penalties, while Oxford were limited to a speculative penalty miss from 40 metres out.

Further pressure forced a penalty for offside in front of the sticks, allowing Stephen to consolidate the Cambridge lead. 

Only a quarter of the match had been played when second-time Oxford captain and third-time blue, Carter, picked up a knee injury and had to be substituted.

Without their captain and nine points in arrears, Oxford finally settled and struck back with two quick penalty goals from Bramham-Law.

But Cambridge extended their lead with a try on the stroke of half time.  A superb offload from Kelly created an overlap for Smith, who popped the ball inside for Murdoch to finish.

Another fine kick added the extras to send Cambridge into the dressing room ten points up.

Cambridge made an excellent start to the second half, winning a simple penalty opportunity for Stephen. 

Those three points were the last Cambridge were to score, however, as Oxford embarked on their comeback. 

As the Oxford forwards began to exert some pressure and create gaps, Cambridge were unable to prevent Egerton from twisting and turning his way over for Oxford’s opening try.

Bramham-Law’s missed conversion left Oxford still two scores behind with 25 minutes left to play.

Cambridge eschewed the first of several opportunities to consolidate their lead, losing two lineouts as they failed to come away from a protracted visit to the Oxford 22 with any points.

Oxford reshuffled their back line, with Marr coming off the bench to fly half and Egerton moving from full back to scrum half.  Thus invigorated, Oxford started to look dangerous. 

The forwards drew in the Cambridge defence until there was space out wide for a floated miss pass to put Harris over in the corner for Oxford’s second try.

Marr assumed kicking duties, but again the extras went begging.

Another lineout malfunction from Cambridge turned the ball over to Oxford, and it was not long before Egerton crowned his man of the match winning performance by sniping round the side of a ruck and providing Marr with a simple finish under the posts.

This time the conversion was unmissable, putting Oxford ahead for the first time in the match by 23 points to 19.

With ten minutes to turn things round, Cambridge looked rattled.  After winning possession from the restart, they were forced back to half way by inaccurate passing and a lack of imagination. 

A fortuitous penalty allowed Cambridge to kick themselves back into the Oxford 22, where a lineout clicked at last and set up a driving maul that came within inches of the Oxford line. 

But Cambridge were unable to finish the job, as replacement hooker Marshall fumbled when in acres of space on the right wing.

More panicked play from the Cambridge backs culminated in a blocked grubber kick, which almost handed a breakaway try to Oxford.  Cambridge recovered well, but Oxford retained territory and kicked a penalty to put victory out of reach.

Cambridge shifted the ball desperately from wing to wing in the dying moments but made little progress.  Finally, a knock-on ended the match and cued Oxford celebrations at a 26-19 victory.