Cambridge came up with an ‘anything you can do, we can do better’ response to Oxford’s 40-40 draw with the Major Stanley’s XV by running in nine tries in a 55-7 win over British Police.
The Dark Blues were forced to add a sixth try three minutes from time to level the scores in the 100thanniversary match against Stanley’s while their arm-rivals had to come from behind to notch their latest victory in East London.
“We usually struggle physically against the Police, but we fronted up very well and that allowed our rugby to take over. There was only a four point difference in this fixture last year and we won by seven the year before that,” said Light Blues head coach James Shanahan.
“I was very happy with the performance, and it is nice to win, but the big thing is that we continue to build towards the Varsity Match on 12 December. As long as we are ticking all the right boxes, and improving, then that’s what really matters.
“There were lots of good performances and our new international second rows, James Horwill and Flip van der Merwe, are settling well into this grade of rugby and providing plenty of confidence for their team mates around them.
“Flip is 32 going on 18 and both he and James are joining in everything. I think they are loving the experience of being back playing rugby with their mates, rather than for a living – it is a breath of fresh air for both of them.”
Van der Merwe was among the try scorers as Cambridge reacted positively to falling behind to an early try from Simon Logue that was converted by Grant Hancox to give the British Police a 7-0 lead. After that, though, it was pretty much one-way traffic.
Full back Joey Gatus got the first try back and then Mike Phillips followed suit as four first-half tries made it 24-7 at the break. There were five more in the second half and among the other try scorers were flanker Tom Walton, wing Tom Lovelace and scrum half Al Gliksten, while there were also four conversions.
The only downside was an injury to Saracens centre Charlie Watson in the final training session ahead of what was due to be his debut. His twisted ankle should have recovered in time for next week, while scrum half Chris Bell is also on the mend.
Those two will now be targeting the Steele-Bodger’s XV game at Grange Road on Wednesday, 20 November. Next week they host a Pacific Islanders XV.
CURUFC Men: Joey Gatus * (Corpus Christi); Tom Lovelace (Hughes Hall), Sean Mackle (Hughes Hall), Rory Triniman * (Hughes Hall), Fergus Jemphrey (Homerton); Mike Phillips * (Emmanuel), Al Gliksten (Robinson); Charlie MacCallum * (Downing), Miles Huppatz * (Downing), Ed Harborne (Clare), Flip van der Merwe (Queens’), James Horwill (Queens’), Tom Walton (St John’s), Sean McMahon * (Gonville & Caius), Stephen Leonard * (Emmanuel, captain)
Reps: Sam Schusman * (Magdalene), Dan Collins (Fitzwilliam), George Cook (Robinson), Archie Smeaton (Queens’), Rowan Beckett * (Peterhouse), Oliver Smart * (Downing), Charlie Saunders * (Selwyn), James Elms (Magdalene), George Laing (Trinity Hall)
* Denotes Blue
