Fraser Gillies put the boot into Crawshay’s Welsh XV as he notched 15 points as Cambridge University got back to winning ways with a notable 30-19 victory.
The Light Blues had to pick themselves up after conceding a second minute try to the former Fiji Under 20 centre Orisi Nawaqaliva, but went on to dominate the next hour as they built up a 30-7 lead.
Gillies kicking made it 9-7 with three successive penalty strikes and then the accomplished outside half converted two tries before the break. The ageless back row man Richard Bartholomew got the first and then scrum half Seb Tullie scampered over on the stroke of half-time to help hoist the home side into a 23-7 interval lead.
Better was to come eight minutes into the second half when replacement back row man Brian du Toit crossed for a third home try which Gillies again improved. After that, all that was left was for a brave rally from the make-shift visiting side, who conjured up two more tries to finally cut the gap to 11 points.
Cambridge coach James Shanahan will have been encouraged by the experiment of using former England Sevens star Charlie Amesbury at centre and the continued good form of skipper Daniel Dass. The only concern for Shanahan came in the shape of a head injury sustained by full back Simon Davies.
“This was the start of four big games for us as we build towards the Varsity Match next month. We’ve got Coventry, Durham University and the Steele Bodger’s XV games to come and that is a good run in for us to Twickenham,” said Shanahan.
“We’ve had some difficult nights defensively in recent weeks against Dublin University and Northampton, but the players have learned a lot. With only 12 players returning from last year it was always going to take a bit of time to fully integrate the other 18 within a 12 week time frame
“It is great to have Charlie Amesbury available and Tom Stanley, a Kiwi from Auckland University, is playing very well. Andrew Hunter has fitted in very well in the second row and now we are hoping to have Ollie Phillips available in the next few games.
“He has been training with the players and what we are hoping to do is add a bit more cutting edge behind the scrum this season.”
Oxford University also faced a combined team this week s they entertained the British Police XV at Iffley Road. Coming on the back of their 45-7 win over Croatia in Zagreb, they will have been disappointed to have lost a bit of momentum in a 27-19 defeat.
The Dark Blues rested a number of front-line players for the game, but are likely to be fully loaded once again when they entertain Aviva Premiership opposition in the shape of Gloucester Rugby on Tuesday, 8 November. Cambridge host Coventry at Grange Road the following night, Wednesday, 9 November.
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.
Cambridge University: George Griffiths; Simon Davies*, Charlie Amesbury, Michael Phillips* Henry King; Fraser Gillies*, Seb Tullie*; Will Briggs*, Fionn Dillon Kelly, Jonny Dixon, Tim Bond, Andrew Hunter, Richard Bartholomew*, Tom Stanley, Daniel Dass* (captain)
Reps: Simon Hugkulstone, William Dean, Demitri Moros, Henry Rose, Brian Du Toit, Chris Bell, Rory Triniman, Seb Williams, Lare Erogbogbo
Scorers: Tries: Richard Bartholomew, Seb Tullie, Brian du Toit; Cons: Fraser Gillies 3; Pens: Fraser Gillies 3
Oxford University: Matt Geiger*; Daniel Barley, Alex Hogg, Tom Stileman*, Ed David*; Basil Strang*, Dylan McGagh; Hugo Lu*, Will Thornton*, Joseph Morris, Jonathan Marsden(captain), Andrew Grant*, James Beaufils, George Blomfield, Graeme MacGilchrist*
Reps: Noah Miller (for Thornton), Paul Childs (for Morris), Hugo McPherson (for Grant), John Aaron Henry (for MacGilchrist), Jacob Goss (for Blomfield), Seb Haddock (for McGagh), Tom Dyer (for Strang), Joe Miller (for Geiger), Christian Goldsmith
Scorers: Tries: Noah Miller, Tom Stileman, Graeme MacGilchrist; Cons: Basil Strang 2
