Oxford University were twice forced to come from behind before notching a notable 20-18 win over the Collegiate All American XV at the Talen Energy Stadium in Philadelphia.
It took nerves of steel from skipper Conor Kearns in the dying moments to step up and convert the match winning penalty to make it two-from-two for the Dark Blues on their American tour. They go on to play Old Blues in New York on Friday night.
The game, the curtain raiser to the Aviva Premiership match between Newcastle Falcons and Saracens, started at a frenetic pace and the Oxford defence had to hold firm before they were finally able to take the lead after 15 minutes. Tom Stileman made a powerful blindside burst before sending new scrum half Sam Edgerley in for a try at the posts that Kearns converted.
Home scrum half Nicklas Boyer got his side on the board with a penalty, but wasn’t able to add the extras to a spectacular 75 metre interception try by left wing Christian Rodriguez that looked as though it Ws going to be a second try for Oxford as Edgerely cut through and tried to find Canadian international wing Dan Moor on the overlap.
That try out of the blue gave the Collegiate XV the lead, but on the stroke of half-time Kearns ghosted through the home defence and set up a ruck from which quick passing allowed Andy Saull to cross in the corner. That made it 12-11 to the visitors at the break.
The lead was extended to six points some five minutes into the second half when the dominant Oxford pack bagged a push-over try for No 8 Will Wilson. Kearns couldn’t add the conversion and so the game remained in the melting pot throughout a keenly contested second half.
With 10 minutes left to play the home side hit back again with a well constructed try from lock Matthew Jensen that outside half Duncan van Schalkwyk converted to edge his side ahead at 18-16, No it was a test of Oxford’s fitness, resilience and desire as the clock began to work against them.
A break by Moor looked as though it had created an opening for Edgerley to score for the second time, but the England Sevens international was hauled down inches short. Oxford maintained the pressure, however, and a penalty soon arrived and that allowed Kearns to regain the lead and win the match.
Oxford will now move on to West Point Military Academy for more training and team bonding exercises, before heading to New York and their final fixture.
USA Rugby Men’s Collegiate All-Americans: Mitchell Wilson (Life); Marcus Tupuola (Notre Dame College), Brady Gent (Davenport), Zachary Young (Arkansas State), Cristian Rodriguez (Lindenwood); Duncan Van Schalkwyk (Life), Nicklas Boyer (Cal); Kevin Sullivan (Cal), Peter Malcolm (Wheeling Jesuit, Austin Elite Rugby), Estevan Florez (Life), Matthew Jensen (BYU), Jeremy Lenaerts (Central Washington), Connor McNerney (USNA), Alec Barton (Saint Mary’s), Maciu Koroi (Life)
Reps: Alex Maughan (Life), Chance Wenglewski (Linenwood), Brian McKellar (Penn State), Chad Gough (Utah), Holden Yungert (Saint Mary’s), Theodoros Terezis (Indiana), Gardy Lebon (USNA), Jake Lachina (West Point)
Oxford University: Ed David * (St Hilda’s); Tom Stileman * (St Peter’s), Dan Barley (St Edmund Hall), Alex Hogg * (Keble), Dan Moor (Christ Church); Conor Kearns * (Jesus, captain), Sam Edgerley (St Catherine’s); Lewis Anderson * (Trinity), Ed Elvin (St Hugh’s), Kieran Ball * (Trinity), Lisiate Fifita (St Edmund Hall), Hugo McPherson (Lady Margaret Hall), Andy Saull (Kellogg), Will Thornton * (Lady Margaret Hall). Will Wilson * (Keble)
Reps: John Henry (Somerville), Noah Miller (St Peter’s), Michael Gorry (Jesus), Charlie Pozniak (St Benet’s Hall), James Beaufils * (Exeter), Tom Kershaw * (Worcester), Thom Foster (Keble), Dylan McGagh (Magdalen)
* Denotes Blue
