A sunny Saturday afternoon full of flying balls, chanting fans and spilling beers—another set of annual Varsity Rugby matches. In this historic competition between Oxford and Cambridge, reaching back to 1872 (or 1988 for women), the passion for the game is palpable.
On 8 March, the weather conditions promised two great matchups between the universities, as fans, stocked up with food and drink, made their way to the stands to support their team.
The women’s match kicked off the day’s events, with Oxford presenting a dominant performance, keeping their opponents at a dominant 15-0 at halftime. The pressure was on for Cambridge, who found themselves in a chasing game, without a chance to claim the lead. There was little change of dynamics in the second half. Oxford, powered by a crowd of cheerful supporters, sealed the deal with a score of 27-7. A great way to start off International Women’s Day!
After a short break, the men’s teams entered the field. Following kick-off, Cambridge was quick to put up points with a penalty. Not intimidated by this, Oxford was given a chance to assert their physical dominance on field, resulting in a try. From this moment on, the match appeared to be fairly one-sided, with Oxford’s strong defence and dominance in the scrums. The kicking game was in favor of the Dark Blues as well, costing Cambridge some important points. Throughout the first half, Oxford was able to hold on to the lead, even though Cambridge gained some momentum towards the end, leading to a closer score (21-18 to Oxford) at halftime. After the break, the Cambridge Lions showed a lot more confidence, which then translated into more secure tackles and explosive runs. The spirit in Cambridge’s fan block was high as their team was in reach of a comeback when it was most needed. Five minutes before the end, the score was 25-28 in favor of Oxford, a Lions player broke through and scored the final try of the match. Despite the disappointment in a closely lost game, the Oxford men’s rugby team showed their potential and made it as difficult as it could be for Cambridge—a promising dynamic for next year’s Rugby Varsity matches!
Trophy in hand, the Lions celebrated to the sound of their fans singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”; while Oxford supporters took solace in their women’s team’s impressive victory. This Varsity Saturday had it all: great athletic performances (as individuals and as a team) thrilling matches, and a friendly, yet competitive, atmosphere. On a personal note, no matter which team won or lost that day, I was impressed by the event and can only recommend it to anyone who is interested in sports, wants to support their university, or simply likes to have a good time!