Oxford head coach James Wade has relished putting his players under pressure this season with games against Aviva Premiership clubs and a fortnight out from their trip to Twickenham the Dark Blues put up another battling performance against professional opposition.
This time it was Worcester Cavaliers who headed to Iffley Road and were given a stern work-out by Fergus Taylor and his Varsity Match champions. Worcester eventually scored seven tries to one in a 39-10 triumph, but a yellow card to the home side in the second half made an impact.
Despite the wet and miserable conditions there was a hat-trick for flying wing Tom Biggs and two for England junior world championship winning lock Huw Taylor. The other tries for the visitors came from wing Auguy Slowik and replacement prop Biyi Alo.
Biggs sped away for his first try of the night in the opening minute, but Basil Strang’s penalty quickly calmed the home nerves. Strang, who played for the Cavaliers early in the season, had been narrowly wide with a 40 metre effort earlier on and a great break from back row man George Blomfield almost yielded a first-half try.
Slowik marked his debut with a try that Tim Stephenson converted to give Worcester a 12-3 lead at the break. The visitors then made their hosts pay dearly when skipper Fergus Taylor was sent to the sin-bin early in the second half.
Huw Taylor, playing at No 8, scored from a driving maul and Biggs and Alo also crossed with the help of the extra-man. The Dark Blues did respond with a try of their own after Huw Taylor’s effort, when the ever-alert Ed David charged down a clearing kick and crossed for a score that Strang’s increasingly reliable boot improved.
But Worcester ended on a high with Biggs recording his hat-trick and Taylor grabbing a second. Their high-seed lay in the second half will have given the Oxford defenders plenty of practice ahead of their clash with Cambridge at Twickenham on Thursday, 8 November, when they will be chasing a seventh straight win.
The 135th Varsity Match and the 30th Women’s Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge will return to Twickenham on Thursday 8th December, with tickets on sale now. 2 for 1 adult tickets are now available online on all £28 ticket categories.
Scorers: Oxford: Try: Ed David; Con: Basil Strang; Pen: Basil Strang. Worcester Cavaliers: Tries: Tom Biggs 3, Huw Taylor 2, Auguy Slowik, Biyi Alo; Cons: Tim Stephenson, Ollie Allsopp
Oxford University: Matt Geiger*; Ed David*, Henry Hughes*, Alex Hogg (Jack Holmes), Tom Stileman*; Basil Strang*, Henry de Berker* (Dylan McGagh); Kieran Ball* (James Scaife*), Edward Hart (Will Thornton), Joe Morris (Hugo Lu), Fergus Taylor* (captain), Andrew Grant* (Jonathan Marsden), Nic Roberts-Huntley* (Graeme MacGilchrist*), George Blomfield, Will Wilson* (James Beaufils)
* Denotes Blue
Worcester Cavaliers: Ben Howard (De Cothi 62); Auguy Slowik, Afeafe Haisila Lokotui, Andy Short, Tom Biggs; Tim Stephenson (Ollie Allsopp 40), George de Cothi (George Wooten 50); Ryan Bower, Beck Cutting (Will Priestly 40), James Johnston (Biyi Alo 40), Kailus Hutchinson (James Scott 50), Wilhelm van der Sluys, Sam Ripper-Smith, Sam Lewis (Ben Fowles 40), Huw Taylor (captain)
