The Oxford University Women’s team have lost the services of back row forward Anna Gibson for the rest of the season after she underwent surgery in the wake of last week’s 22-0 defeat at Cambridge.
The 21-year-old was on course to win her first Blue at Twickenham next month before seriously injuring her left ankle in the pre-Varsity Match clash with the Light Blues at Grange Road. That game was in the BUCS Premier South competition and earned Alice Middleton’s Light Blues their first league win.
Both teams are back in BUCS action this week (Wednesday, 9 November) with Oxford welcoming Exeter University and Cambridge hosting the University of Gloucestershire. The Dark Blues beat Gloucestershire earlier in the campaign, while Exeter, an RFU hub, beat Cambridge 92-0.
“We’ve got four very tough games ahead of us before we meet Cambridge again at Twickenham,” said Dark Blues skipper Catherine Wilcock. “It’s all about keeping the injury count down and competing as hard as we possibly can.
“We want to keep on learning as we build towards the Varsity Match. We are a much more experienced side than we were last year and now we know what to expect from Cambridge after last week’s game at Grange Road.
“Losing Anna is a big blow because she has come through so well. All we can do now is try to nurse here back to full fitness for next season.
“While we still have four games in BUCS to go, everything we are doing is geared to the Varsity Match. As long as we plan as I know we can, and don’t let the occasion get to us as it did last year, then I think we will be very competitive.
“It was good to get a taste of what Cambridge can do and while the result was not what we wanted, it has given us all extra drive.”
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. The £10 early bird student tickets offer finishes today (Wednesday 9 November), with tickets £15 thereafter. 2 for 1 adult tickets are now available online on all £28 ticket categories.
Oxford University Women (v Exeter University, Marston Sports Ground, KO 2.30pm)
Sophie Trott; Iona Harrap, Affi Bunting, Millie Rose, Gemma Robson; Catherine Wilcock (captain), Carly Bliss; Jenny Smith, Pat Metcalfe-Jones, Cecilia Peker, Sophie Taylor, Elmarie van Heerden, Leanne Robinson, Caitlin McArdle
Reps: Gwen Cartwright, Carolina Matte-Gregory, Mollie MacGinty, Imogen Duffy, Susy Rees
FIXTURES BEFORE TWICKENHAM
OXFORD
Wed, 9 November. 14:30: Exeter University- Marston Road Sports Ground
Wed, 16 November. 18:00: Uni of Gloucestershire- Oxford University RFC
Wed, 23 November. 14:30: Bristol Uni- Marston Road Sports Ground
Wed, 30 November. 14:30: Cardiff Met -Cyncoed
CAMBRIDGE
Wed, 9 November. 14:00: Uni of Gloucestershire- Cambridge
Wed, 16 November. 14:00: Bristol Uni- Bristol University
Wed, 30 November. 14:00: Exeter Uni- Cambridge
