Oxford University produced by far their best display of the season to upset the odds at Twickenham.

Having gone into yesterday’s 129th Varsity Match as clear underdogs, the Dark Blues rose to the occasion, while Cambridge never clicked the way they were expected to.

The victory was a fitting tribute to the dedication of Oxford head coach Murray Henderson, whose father Peter died last week.

Oxford’s back row, led by man-of-the-match Stan McKeen at No 8, were outstanding and consistently denied Cambridge quick ball.

In the backs, centres Alex Cheesman and Sean Morris gave the Dark Blues a cutting edge that an error-strewn Cambridge lacked.

The Light Blues may have fought back from 15-0 to 15-10 as their scrum got on top, but they never gained ascendancy in the other areas of the field.

Oxford won two early penalties, kicking the latter to the corner, but wasted the chance with a short line-out move that backfired.

The much vaunted scrum contest began with Cambridge conceding a free-kick on their own put in, while the second was routine stuff.

On 13 minutes, the Dark Blues mounted a promising attack, but outside centre Morris gave a forward pass under pressure.

Cambridge had a brief foray at the other end, but an Oxford penalty ended their hopes.

Oxford’s driving maul was gaining in influence and when the Light Blues illegally pulled one down, fly half Charlie Marr slotted the resulting penalty on 21 minutes.

Barely a minute later, inside centre Cheesman was touching down the opening try on the right, after Marr recycled the ball from wing Luke Jones’s break.

Marr converted and suddenly Oxford were 10-0 up.

Cambridge were clearly rocked and some superb off-loading, with Cheesman again to the fore, almost carved them open again.

The Dark Blues were in dreamland when they ran in try No 2 through full back James Crozier after another rapier attack on 27 minutes.

Cheesman was again key in breaking a tackle and when Morris passed wide, Crozier cruised in to score.

Oxford were penalised at a 34th-minute scrum, but Cambridge skipper Jimmy Richards made an absolute hash of his kick at goal, scuffing it low and wide.

The Light Blue scrum increased the pressure, but all they had to show from the first half was a stoppage-time penalty from Richards.

Oxford brought on hooker AJ Connor at half-time and then Jez Mather, to play on the left wing, soon afterwards.

They threatened a third try when wing Luke Fenwick latched on to skipper Nick Haydon’s reverse pass.

A loose chip from Marr put his side on trouble, but Cambridge wasted the chance when Richards threw a forward pass to wing Rob Stevens.

The Light Blues did go back for a scrum at which Oxford were penalised.

Referee Andy Small pinged Oxford once more, but the Cambridge scrum were on top and another infringement saw them deservedly awarded a penalty try, which Richards converted.

Was this breaking point for the Dark Blues?

Not yet at least as Marr slotted a simple penalty for 18-10.

Cambridge centre Fred Burton made a strong surge forward on 64 minutes, but didn’t use his support.

Burdon’s midfield partner Paul Loudon was next in the action, but saw his pass roll into touch.

There was a brief interlude when a Cambridge streaker staged a one-man student fees protest.

Cambridge hooker Jamie Gilbert was stopped just short on 72 minutes and Oxford turned the ball over.

Oxford repeatedly looked to clear through long Marr punts, but Cambridge ran the ball back well.

Gilbert was stretchered off with a fractured ankle late on, while Oxford picked and drove well to earn a penalty.

Marr’s kick sailed through the posts and there was no time left for Cambridge to reply.

To add the icing on the cake – if any was needed – Harry Guinness came on to follow brother Dan, who was replaced on the hour mark, and become Oxford’s first Varsity Match siblings since 1976.

Oxford University: Crozier (Yusef 79), Fenwick (H Guinness 79), Morris, Cheesman, Jones (J Mather 45), Marr, Haydon (capt), Macdonald (Anderson 60), Oliver (Connor 41), Kane, Evans, Outen, D Guinness (Rowe 60), L Mather (Swan 68), McKeen#. Rep not used: Wisson.

Cambridge University: Richards (capt), Cherezov, Burdon, Loudon, Stevens, Cushing (Guinness-King# 73), Hunt, Conlon (Daniel 54), Gilbert (Hall 78), Brown (Harris 75), Harrington, Baird (Annett 62), Kururangi (Martin 68), Stanton (Daly 61), Maidment. Rep not used: Briggs.

# denotes international.

Referee: A Small (New Zealand).

Man-of-the-match: McKeen.

Attendance: 27,471.