Cambridge University RUFC   (12) 12

Tries: Murdoch, Wolfe

Cons: Abraham

RAF                                            (17) 24

Tries: Mann (2), McNally, Hankinson

Cons: Hankinson (2)

The Blues, playing in their maroon change strip, started this uninspiring encounter patchily and looked to have squandered a golden opportunity as winger Will Smith wriggled through the RAF’s line but failed to pick out his support runner.  However, sharp hands from the resulting tap penalty put Andy Murdoch over to open the scoring on four minutes, with Andrew Abraham neatly converting.

The Blues struggled for quick ball in very wet conditions whilst the forwards were dominated throughout the match.  In spite of this, the RAF’s indiscipline helped provide openings, but  points went begging as Abraham missed a straightforward penalty in front of the posts.

After solid defensive work from Cambridge at the edge of their own 22, the provision of quick ball from the scrum created space on the blind side allowing Wolfe to finish off a smart move and extend the lead to 12-0.

The RAF finally made inroads after an inauspicious start and, after making steady progress towards the try line, Toby Mann eventually went in for a scrappy score.  Cambridge held out for a further ten minutes until the RAF upped the tempo again, Mann streaking away down the wing all too easily for his second try.

The Blues were unable to cling on to half-time as slack defending allowed RAF lock Josh McNally to cover the entire 22 and score his side’s third try.  After two misses, Hankinson’s conversion went in off the post to give the RAF a 17-12 half-time lead.

The RAF began the second half where they left off, their pack’s dominance telling as they made twenty metres mauling.  The good field position enabled fly-half Hankinson to easily sidestep Blues prop Alderson and score under the posts. Converting his own try to take the score line to 24-12 immediately after half-time. These were to be the last points of the match, as the game fragmented in the midst of inclement conditions and momentum-sapping injury breaks.  Cambridge had the better territory and discipline, but ultimately lacked direct penetration and creative guile out wide.