Basil Strang made the most of his half-day off from teaching at Kingham Hill School to cement his place in the Oxford University side for the 135th Varsity Match with a match-winning performance in a 39-5 win over the Major Stanley’s XV.
The 23-year-old outside half gave the Dark Blues a flying start with a try in the opening minutes and went on to score 20 points, After converting his own score he improved a try by skipper Fergus Taylor and also kicked two penalties.
Studying for an MSC in Learning and Teaching at Stephen’s House College, Strang looks set to be a major weapon for Oxford as they attempt to extend their record winning streak over Cambridge from six to seven games on Thursday, 8 December. At 6ft 5in tall, and weighing in at 17st 6lbs, it is no wonder he has captured the attention of the Worcester Warriors’ scouts.
Having been unavailable for last year’s Varsity Match – he played in the Greyhounds big win over the LX Club – the ex-RGS Newcastle and Durham University student has made himself indispensable this season. His goal-kicking has been ultra-reliable and in this game he was able to showcase his distribution skills when the game opened up in the second half.
Taylor’s team have spent much of the build-up to next month’s clash with Cambridge at Twickenham showing off their defensive skills against Aviva Premiership clubs, but they showed there is much more to their game against a much stronger and better-organised Stanley’s XV than in 2015.
Having done the hard-graft in the first-half, the Dark Blues were able to able to reap the rewards after the break. It took a further 13 minutes of softening up, with the fit-again Nic Huntley-Roberts happily restored to the home pack to provide his own brand of vim and vigour in place of the skipper in the second half, before the third try flowed.
The ever alert scrum half Henry de Berker, another key player returning to full fitness, ensured the ball was whisked away quickly from the breakdown and right wing Ed David was held up just short in the corner. The ball was recycled and de Berker picked out second row Andrew Grant as his best-placed runner and he was able to dive over unopposed.
The conversion was once again a formality for Strang and the outside half then skipped through the Stanley’s defence for a second time to notch another try. His conversion made it five out of six on the goalkicking front and took his match tally up to 20 points.
Stanley’s finally got on the scoreboard with 10 minutes left to play when replacement scrum half Tom Kershaw scampered over. But the home side had the final say when No 8 Will Wilson finally rounded off a period of hammering away at the Stanley’s line with a muscular try which Tom Dyer improved.
Scorers: Oxford: Tries: Basil Strang 2, Fergus Taylor, Andrew Grant, Will Wilson; Cons: Basil Strang 3, Tom Dyer; Pens: Basil Strang 2. Stanley’s XV: Try: Tom Kershaw
Oxford University: Daniel Barley; Tom Stileman, Henry Hughes, Alex Hogg, Ed David; Basil Strang, Henry de Berker; Kieran Ball, Edward Hart, Joe Morris, Fergus Taylor (captain), Andrew Grant, George Blomfield, Jon Marsden, Will Wilson
Replacements: Will Thornton, James Scaife, Hugo Lu, Nic Roberts-Huntley, James Beaufils, Jacob Goss, Dylan McGagh, Tom Dyer, Jack Holmes
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.
