OXFORD University withstood a spirited second-half comeback from Cambridge to retain the Varsity trophy in the competition’s 150th year.

The Dark Blues were 21-0 up at the break, but their opponents scored 17 unanswered points in the final ten minutes at Twickenham.

Oxford’s second successive Varsity victory moves them to within two wins of Cambridge’s tally of 64.

The triumph was built on a pack containing four internationals, although ex-England fly-half Toby Flood was in the Light Blues XV.

Luke Wyllie crossed first for Oxford, David Wilkinson converting, before Cambridge’s Charlie Friend caught Nick Civetta in the head and became only the third player sent off in the history of the fixture, but the second in two years.

Civetta and Andrew Durutalo went over before the interval, Wilkinson adding the extras.

Cambridge threatened throughout the second half and Luke Parry finally crossed ten minutes from time.

Demi Obembe ran in a brilliant try from 70 metres seconds later, before Alex King’s effort was converted by Jamie Benson in the final play.

In the women’s match, Oxford were denied by Vianney Gomezgil Yaspik’s late try in a 10-10 draw.

Megan Isaac and Lauren Webb had made it 10-5 after Cambridge’s Hetta Friend crossed early on, but the Light Blues retained the trophy.