Varsity Match 2024: Cambridge University RUFC Men’s team run in eight tries during comprehensive victory over Oxford University RUFC
Cambridge University RUFC Men’s team completed a Varsity Match double with their resounding 56-11 victory over Oxford University at the StoneX Stadium in north London this afternoon.
The team had watched on earlier in the day as their female club-mates edged a narrow contest 10-5 to gain revenge for the defeat that they suffered 12 months ago.
And the men followed suit by running in a comprehensive eight tries on their way to racking up back-to-back wins in the prestigious fixture for the first time since 2017.
Yet, despite the one-sided nature of the scoreline it was Oxford that struck first when Archie King’s second-minute penalty sailed clear through the posts.
However, Cambridge responded in positive fashion thanks to Jamie Benson’s offload for David Holdroyd, who slid over from 10 metres out. Benson was off target with the subsequent conversion but Cambridge were nevertheless in the ascendancy.
Benson, who is playing in the RFU Championship this season with Cambridge Rugby Club, soon found his radar and a couple of successful penalties edged the Light Blues 11-3 in front.
Another penalty from King reduced Oxford’s deficit to five points, but that was soon extended to 12 when Cambridge captain Ben Gompels broke away from a rolling maul to dot down and Benson made no mistake with the extras.
Charles Kantolinna and Fergus Hughes also went over before the break to send Cambridge into the interval with a healthy 30-6 advantage.
The second half continued in similar fashion as further tries from George Bland, Makoto Tosa, James Ferndale and Benson helped to move Cambridge beyond a half century of points while Jack Hamilton gave the Oxford faithful a consoaltion try to cheer 15 minutes from time.
CURUFC: 15. James Farndale (The Edinburgh Academy & Robinson), 14. Tim Andrew (Pate’s Grammar School & Jesus) *, 13. Max Loveridge (Nottingham High School & Jesus) *, 12. Matt Riddington (Oakham School & St Edmund's), 11. Ikechi Mere (Eton College & St John's), 10. Jamie Benson (Hampton School & Downing) *, 9. David Holdroyd (Adams’ Grammar School & Jesus) *, 1. James Wyse (Clongowes Wood College SJ & Lucy Cavendish), 2. Ben Gompels (St Bede’s Catholic College & Darwin, Captain) *, 3. Danny Collins (Maria Immaculata Community College & Wolfson) *, 4. Charles Kantolinna (Bishop Wordsworth’s School & Jesus), 5. Byron Hodge (Waverley College & Wolfson) *, 6. Harry Jones (Hills Road Sixth Form & Darwin), 7. Fergus Hughes (Nelson College & St. Edmund’s) *, 8. Makoto Tosa (Onomichi High School & Clare Hall) *
16. Connor Collins (Millfield & St Catharine's), 17. Stefan Nixon (Colaiste Cill Mhantain & Darwin), 18.Thomas Petty (Trinity School & Robinson), 19. Charles Hancock (Reed’s School & Robinson), 20. James Pratt (Methodist College, Belfast & Sidney Sussex), 21. Daniel Hide (St Andrew's College, Dublin & Hughes Hall), 22. George Bland (Oakham School & King's), 23. Tomos Miller (RGS High Wycombe & Homerton)
