The simple beauty of Varsity Matches is that on any given day, either team can win.  This uncertainty means it is always a mistake to underestimate an Oxbridge opponent. Many Cambridge Pythons American football players reminded their teammates of this fact as they prepared for their Varsity showdown against the Oxford Lancers on enemy soil.  Cambridge had enjoyed a successful season, advancing to the Challenge Plate quarter-final (losing to the eventual champion) and climbing as high as twelfth in the UK national rankings of sixty university teams.  Oxford’s regular season has been dismal; and yet, memories of last year’s Varsity draw kept any expectations of an easy Cambridge victory well in check.

Cambridge won the coin toss and elected to kick.  The Oxford returner fumbled a deep kick by Dr. Matthew Hawkins and recovered for no gain.  The first quarter ended all square as both offences battled rough winds without any sustained success. The second quarter opened with an errant snap on an Oxford punt, allowing Cambridge to take over on the Oxford 11 yard line. On the third play of the drive, quarterback Joe Yarwood followed excellent blocks to glide into the endzone for a 5-yard touchdown.  The two-point conversion slipped by but Cambridge had the early momentum.  

Desperate to equalise, Oxford showed they still had plenty of weapons in their arsenal.  A trio of running backs marched up the field with some explosive run before they eventually achieved a 3-yard touchdown.  The Oxford conversion was successful, putting them up 7 – 6 at halftime.

The momentum was on Oxford’s side as the third quarter began and after an opening three and out drive by Cambridge, Oxford penetrated the Pythons’ defence for a second time with a massive 45-yard touchdown as they seized the initiative: history was in sudden danger of repeating itself and every Python player sensed it. 

But the men in light blue began to come back into the match and the Cambridge offence took control of the game led primarily by their running attack of Conor “Moose” Rooney, Jack Tavener, and Sebastian Funk.  Reacting to a miscue by the Oxford cornerback, Yarwood sailed a pass to Steve Kinnersley who made a beautiful over the shoulder catch for an 11-yard touchdown.  Yarwood again found the endzone on the two point conversion to put Cambridge ahead 14 – 13.  

After a tandem of lacklustre drives in the fourth quarter, Cambridge took over on their own 17 yard line with time winding down in the game.  Runs by Funk and Rooney were followed by a fake run HB option play where Funk connected with Canadian wide receiver Jaason Geerts for a 22-yard pass.  More solid blocking by Eric Chapman and the rest of the offensive line and good runs by Rooney, Funk, and Tavener wore the Lancers defence down and, as importantly, seconds ticked by on the clock. 

Cambridge were pushing for another score to give themselves some breathing space and quarterback Joe Yarwood was able to find Jaason Geerts in triple coverage for a 29-yard gain, which brought the Pythons to the Oxford 2 yard line. Yarwood called his own number and plowed forward on a quarterback sneak to advance the Cambridge lead to 20 – 13. 

There were some stunning performances all over the field from Cambridge with Jack Tavener, Joe Yarwood, Thomas Piachaud, Eric Chapman and Kevin Maloney key figures in the deserved Varsity triumph.

Pythons captain Thomas Piachaud said after the game, “We started off complacent and you could tell Oxford really wanted the win.  We really turned it on in the second half though and earned the victory.”

The Oxford coach stated that he was rightfully proud of his team’s performance and improvement throughout the season. The Pythons would like to thank their coaches Julian, Lennie, Steve, Martin, Robert Guy, Paul Steers, Roope, Jat, and all the fans who made this season such a success.  Credit is also due to Oxford for being excellent hosts and gentlemen following the match.

In Varsity Matches anything can happen, but this year it was Cambridge who stormed their way back to capture the title and return home champions.

Cambridge Pythons 20, Oxford Lancers 13