RUGBY: Dark Blues are just run out of it at Twickenham (From Oxford Mail)

RUGBY: Dark Blues are just run out of it at Twickenham

7:34pm Thursday 10th December 2009 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti

It was another thriller, but this year the Light Blues of Cambridge were worthy winners of the 128th Varsity Match.

Only four points separated the two universities at the end of a pulsating second half at Twickenham in which the lead changed hands four times.

This was the same margin as in 2008 when Oxford hung on for a 33-29 victory.

However, Oxford’s final try, from centre Alex Cheesman, came in stoppage time, with fly half Ross Swanson’s conversion the final action.

The Dark Blues led 7-5 after a first half they had dominated for long periods.

But while many, including former England coach Brian Ashton, had expected the Oxford backs to shine, it was their Cambridge counterparts who came to the fore.

Full back Jimmy Richards was named man-of-the-match after a superb running display, ahead of a decent supporting cast.

Wing James Greenwood, who had been mauled by Oxford hat-trick hero Tim Catling last year, was switched to the opposite flank in a late team change, and fared far better this time.

Oxford thought they had a chance to open their account with a seventh-minute penalty, but the decision as reversed after a foul by lock Ian Kench.

Three minutes later, Cambridge fly half Ross Broadfoot, who suffered a quad injury the day before, had a shot at goal, but his penalty went well wide.

Dark Blues’ scrum half Nick Haydon was just short from a close-range snipe on 29 minutes, then Oxford won a penalty from the resulting scrum.

It was tapped quickly and Haydon drove for the line, but was adjudged held up after a video replay.

Oxford won three more penalties in quick succession and when Cambridge in-fringed again at another scrum, referee Dean Richards awarded a penalty try on 32 minutes.

Swanson converted and Oxford had a deserved 7-0 lead.

Oxford could and perhaps should have been further ahead, but Cambridge re-sponded well with Richards a real threat.

His break set up lock Will Jones after 37 minutes, but the latter was well tackled by Oxford full back Chris Mahony.

Two minutes later, Richards created the Light Blues’ opening try, which was well finished on the right by left wing Greenwood.

Oxford started the second half purposely and were rewarded with a Swanson penalty on 44 minutes.

But Cambridge responded immediately with a slick line-out moved that ended with Jones powering over and Broadfoot converting for 12-10.

The Dark Blues inched ahead again through Swanson’s second penalty on 51 minutes.

Back came Cambridge, with young centre Fred Burden gaining great ground and Broadfoot finishing well on the left, again aided by a replay.

Broadfoot’s conversion made it 19-13.

Barely six minutes later and after another series of penalties, Haydon did what he narrowly failed to do in the first half and forced his way over, Swanson converting.

The basketball-style scoring continued and this time decisively with Cambridge notching twice in three minutes.

Firstly the video ref confirmed a try by Richards after he had cut inside at pace, but was almost held up by Catling and Cheesman.

Broadfoot converted this before replacement scrum half Jamie Hood, who had added real pace to his side, arced round Mahony to touch down Cambridge’s fifth try.

The chances continued to come, with Cambridge’s defence holding up well under real pressure.

Greenwood’s football skills let him down as he hunted for a sixth try, then with the clock having passed 80 minutes, Cheesman broke through to score and Swanson converted.

Oxford University: Mahony, Browne, Cheesman, Allfrey (James 79), Catling, Swanson, Haydon (Klopper 75), Lutton, Rosen (capt) (Rogers 79), Tomaszczyk (Johnson 77), Kench (Outen 57), Van Zyl, Carter (Makoto 19-25 [blood] & 67), McKeen, Davies.

Cambridge University: Richards (Balfour 79), Riley, Shepherd (Reid 50), Burdon, Greenwood, Broadfoot, Rowe (Hood 50), Conlon (Daniel 50), Crossley (Gilbert 79), Harris, Jones (Anuvatnujotikul 79), Vicker-man (capt), White, Wheeler (Henderson 77), Maidment.

Referee: D Richards (Twickenham).

Attendance: 30,082.

Man-of-the-match: Richards.