Monday 26 March 2007

Skolars lose final Northern Rail Cup outing

London Skolars ended their Northern Rail Cup commitments for 2007 yesterday with a defeat away at Leigh. The victory was a comfortable one for the National League One side who were desperate to ensure qualification to the closing stages of the competition as one of the best performing third placed sides in the group rounds.

For the second round in succession the Skolars conceded 60 points, but they did show more attacking prowess than in their previous game against Widnes, when they were nilled, managing to run in 22 points against the Centurions including four tries.

Although the North London outfit failed to win any of their outings in this season’s Northern Rail Cup there has been much encouragement from their performances in what was arguably the toughest group in the competition, with all their opponents tipped as possible contenders in their respective divisions. The Skolars have had an extremely tough run of fixtures going into the start of National League Two and must now carry that experience forward with them into the campaign.

Leigh Centurions: 60
Tries: Hill, Rivett, Ainscough 2, Greenwood 2, Alstead 3, Grundy 2
Goals: Hughes 8

London Skolars: 22
Tries: Mowmand,Green, Brown, Honor
Goals: Mowmand 3

Saturday 24 March 2007

Rhinos make it four losses in a row for Quins

Quins RL fell to a fourth consecutive defeat in Leeds last night as they were made to pay for a slow start to the game which saw the Rhinos take a 12 – 0 lead after just ten minutes. Brian McDermott was forced into a late reshuffle of his side following the withdrawal of standoff Scott Hill with a bout of flu, moving Mark McLinden to the halves and Chris Melling back to the fullback slot where he began the season.

Danny McGuire opened the try scoring capitalising on a dropped ball from Melling, a couple of minutes later Brent Webb was to add the second following some slick team play. Both tries were converted by Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield.

Quins did manage to string together some good play in the middle of the first half, with Melling making up for his earlier mistake by taking a pass from Chad Randall to cross for the visitors only points of the half.

A third try was to come Leeds way in the final ten minutes of the half, again from Danny McGuire courtesy of some smart running from his halfback partner Rob Burrow. Sinfield added his third conversion to an earlier penalty goal to lead his side into the break with a 20 – 4 advantage.

Things got worse just after the break when Webb added his second try of the match, following up a kick from winger Ashley Gibson. Sinfield added his fifth goal of the match to take the Rhinos out to an impregnable 26 – 4 lead.

Quins to their credit did not crumble and bounced back with McLinden engineering a try for wing Matt Gafa. Henry Paul added the conversion to take the score to 26 – 10.

There were to be no further scores till the last ten minutes of the game when Sinfield added a second penalty, confirming that the game was out of reach. A late try from Paul Sykes, converted by captain Rob Purdham offered little more than consolation.

McDermott will be hoping that next weekends game away to Pia in the Challenge Cup will mark a turning point for his side, from which they can return to winning ways. Wins against lower competition sides in last seasons Challenge Cup were a key trigger in building the confidence of the Quins side as they went on to display some good form in the closing stages of the Super League campaign.

Leeds: (20) 28
Tries: McGuire (2), Webb (2)
Goals: Sinfield (6)

Harlequins RL: (4) 16
Tries: Melling, Gafa, Sykes
Goals: Paul, Purdham

Friday 23 March 2007

Quins to face Rhinos at Headingley

This evening see Quins RL travel to Headingley to face the Leeds Rhinos. As the biggest club side in British rugby league, Leeds have often attracted the tag of underachievers, but there is no doubting that the side contains some of the best talent in Super League.

The Rhinos have won four out of six Super League games this terms, but were very lucky to come away with a win from last weekend’s clash with Wakefield with the benefit of some dubious officiating. They will be clear favourites against Quins who have lost their last three games.

Kiwi international fullback Brent Webb returns to the Leeds side following injury, competing a back line packed with top class experience. Great Britain stalwart Keith Senior is likely to partner Kiwi international Clinton Toopi in the centres, with former Manly flyer Scott Donald out wide. In the halves Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire form a formidable pairing.

Up front the Rhinos are led by Great Britain skipper Jamie Peacock, who alongside the hardworking Gareth Ellis provide the driving force behind the pack. Club captain Kevin Sinfield forms a key link with the halves, whilst Matt Diskin is a fine distributor at dummy half.

Quins are still likely to be without former Kangaroo Richard Villasanti, who is still gaining match fitness in reserve grade following off-season knee service. Winger Jon Wells is also reported as dropping out due to a bout of flu and will be replaced by Andy Smith who will make his first start since joining from Bradford.

Brian McDermott will be well aware of the capabilities of the Leeds side, having been assistant to counterpart Tony Smith before joining Quins last season, and will be looking for improvements from his side following a disappointing run
.

Monday 19 March 2007

Skolars steamrollered by Widnes

London Skolars went down 0 – 66 to Widnes Vikings in yesterday’s Northern Rail Cup game at New River Stadium. The Vikings, one of the favourites for this season’s National League One competition, packed with former Super League players such as former London Broncos halfback Dennis Moran simply had far too much quality for the Skolars, running in 12 unanswered tries.

The home side had already left behind any chance of progressing in the Northern Rail Cup before the game had begun, must use the experience gained in what is arguably the toughest group in the competition as a building block in their forthcoming National League Two campaign.

The Skolars final game group six game will be away at Leigh on Sunday, where they will be facing a Centurions side desperate to bounce back from a second defeat to National League Two favourites Celtic Crusaders. Leigh will be looking for an emphatic home win in order to confirm one of the three third best team slots in the final stages of the competition

London Skolars: (0) 0
Tries:
Goals:

Widnes (42) 66
Tries: Kirk, Kohe-Love 2, Nanyn, Wilkes 2, Webster 3, Moran 3

Goals: Nanyn 7, Noone 2

Bulls clinch thriller at The Stoop

Quins RL fell to their third consecutive defeat at the Stoop on Saturday, going down 22 – 36 to Super League pace setters Bradford Bulls. Although much of the shine from the side’s form in the opening three rounds has now faded, the game itself was much closer than the score line suggests and there was much about the match that will leave Brian McDermott rueing the fact that his side didn’t get at least a point from the encounter.

It was Bradford who were quickest out of the traps with forwards Jamie Langley and Glenn Morrison powering over the first two tries of the game in typical Bulls fashion. Two conversions from Paul Deacon left the away team looking imperious sitting on a 12 point lead with a quarter of the game gone.

A string of dubious decision from referee Phil Bentham, who seemed unconcerned with keeping the visitors onside for much of the match, were to place Quins on the back-foot equally as much as the imposing physical presence the Bulls brought to the game. Bentham’s inconsistency; particularly to the area of the ball playing the man, was to mar his performance throughout; and from very early on the signals were clear that the home side were not likely to get a fair go.

Quins finally got on the scoreboard around the half hour mark when a good passage of play saw Paul Sykes cross the line; unfortunately Sykes had less luck with the boot as he was to miss the first of four attempted conversions. A few minutes later skipper Rob Purdham broke away from the Bulls defence following some strong running from second-row Jonny Grayshon. The scores were to remain at 8 – 12 going into half-time.

In the second-half it was the home side who were to get off the mark first, Mark McLinden setting up Purdham for his second try, to pull the scores level at 12 all. Ten minutes into the half the Quins were to hit the front for the first time when winger Jon Wells stood up Bulls fullback Michael Platt to be first to Scott Hill’s deft kick.

However, the Quins lead was not to last, with the lead swinging back and forth in the third quarter of the match. It was the impressive Morrison with his second try, goaled by Deacon, who was to snatch back the lead, only for Sykes to intercept a sloppy pass from Iestyn Harris to launch a near full length of the field run for his second try. A switch of kicker saw Purdham collect Quins only conversion of the game.

Harris was to make amends for his mistake three minutes later, picking up the Bulls fourth try and what would prove to be the decisive score with Deacon’s goal pushing them out to 22 - 24. Five minutes later Lesley Vainikolo, who had otherwise looked out of sorts, collected a loose pass to run in a long-range effort under the sticks effectively ending Quins hopes. A try in the final ten minutes from Platt rounded off an effective Bulls performance.

Whilst a third consecutive defeat will be hard to take for the Quins, there were considerable improvements in attack, particularly compared to recent matches where the side has failed to deliver in the second-half of games. The final result shows that Bradford scored only one more try than Quins, with the remaining margin attributable to a poor return from place kicks.

But where attack showed improvement the defence took a step backwards with the Quins allowing the Bulls too much space to offload in the tackle and frequently failing to wrap-up the ball close to the line. The size and power of the Bradford size, particularly in the forwards, was always going to provide a serious test of the defence, although poor officiating from Bentham arguably exacerbated Quins troubles.

Coach McDermott, will now look to shore up the defensive weaknesses highlighted whilst hoping that the improvements in attack carry through to Friday night’s game away at Leeds Rhinos.

Harlequins RL: (8) 22
Tries: Sykes 2, Purdham 2, Wells
Goals: Purdham

Bradford: (12) 36
Tries: Langley, Morrison 2, Harris, Vainikolo, Platt
Goals: Deacon 6

Friday 16 March 2007

Quins to halt stampeding Bulls

Quins RL face league leaders Bradford Bulls tomorrow at the Twickenham Stoop, the Bulls the second most successful club of the Super League behind St Helens represent a major challenge for a Quins side that has lost its last two games.

Head Coach Brian McDermott will be well aware of the threat posed by the Bulls, a former Bradford player he retains close links with the club including a friendship with counterpart Steve McNamara. McNamara, who took over the helm following the departure of Brian Noble to Wigan last season, knows he has great expectations to live up to following the Bull’s recent history of success.

Bradford have one of the best halves combinations in the league with former Great Britain internationals Paul Deacon and Iestyn Harris guiding the side around the park. In the forwards Kiwi international David Solomona, a close season signing from Wakefield, is likely to be influential, complementing by former Kangaroo Chris McKenna and home grown international Jamie Langley. Many Quins fans will remember McKenna from a short-spell with the London Broncos back in 1995. Hooker Ian Henderson provides quick service from dummy half, but the Bulls will be without their other hooker Terry Newton who is currently suspended.

In the backs Bradford have some impressive firepower in Kiwi internationals Shontayne Hape and Lesley Vainikolo, whilst centre Ben Harris is a reliable presence. Fullback is likely to be Michael Platt who is emerging as one of Super League’s brightest young players, following early stints with Hunslet, Salford and Castleford.

Quins have named second row Lee Hopkins in the squad, following a rib injury, although Hopkins along with recent signing Richard Villasanti who is also named, may still be short of full fitness.

Brian McDermott will be hoping that his side are able to recapture the form they displayed in the opening three round of Super League as well as overcome their recent habit of fading in the second half.

Skolars switch Challenge Cup clash to Belle Vue

London Skolars have taken the decision to switch their fourth round home tie with Super League side Wakefield Trinity Wildcats to the Bell Vue stadium in Wakefield. The decision to change the venue of the match scheduled for Sunday 1st Arpil, comes after talks with both the RFL and Haringey Council owners of the club’s New River home.

The New River stadium only has a safety certificate for around 1,000 seated fans in the main stand which is considered inadequate for a Challenge Cup fixture of this scale. It is estimated that it would require in the region of £20,000 to be spent bringing the ground up to the safety standard required to expand the capacity for what is in effect a one-off game.

The decision has attracted some criticism from London rugby league fans about the club spurning the opportunity to build on what would be a high profile tie in return for the financial benefit of switching to Wakefield. The critics have suggested that the club should have made more effort to find another local venue, but such criticism ignores the ignores the obvious reality that finding an alternate London venue would be costly and a small club like Skolars has to make decisions which balance development ambitions with long-term operating needs.

A fourth round tie with a Super League club will bring a club like Skolars a much needed cash injection which can be used not only to finance the first team’s forthcoming National League Two campaign, but also to continue the excellent grass roots work which the club facilitates in North London. The club is looking to turn the game into a community event involving their junior teams and also the student rugby league community out of which the club emerged.

Monday 12 March 2007

Wigan edge out Quins at the JJB

Friday night saw Quins RL handed their second loss of the Super League season in a tight away encounter at the JJB stadium.

Wigan claimed the first points of the game with a Pat Richards penalty, but the early lead was to be short lived when prop Daniel Heckenberg took a delayed pass from Henry Paul to go in under the sticks. Paul Sykes added the conversion to make the score 2 – 6 to the visitors.

The home side hit back almost immediately when fullback Mark McLinden failed to deal with a Trent Barrett bomb on his own line, offering up an easy walk in try for opposite number Michael Withers. Richard tacked on the extra two points and was back for two more on the half hour mark to push Wigan’s lead out to 10 – 6. This marked a period of dominance for the Warriors with winger Mark Calderwood almost adding another try from former Quins halfback Thomas Leuluai’s grubber.

However, Wigan’s purple patch ended two minutes from the break when Scott Hill was able to break some weak tackling to add Quins second try. The goal added by Henry Paul sending them into half-time 10 – 12 up.

The second half was to prove a tight affair, former Wigan player Chris Melling denying star signing Trent Barrett with a last ditch tackle on the hour. But five minutes later Melling went from hero to villain when he dropped a last tackle kick from Barrett handing possession back to the home side. It was from this that Leuluai was able to open up a gap for David Vaealiki to score the only try of the half. The conversion from Richards pushed the scores to 16 – 12 where they were to stay despite a frantic period of late pressure from the visitors.

A second consecutive defeat will be a concern for Brian McDermott who has been frustrated lately by his sides inability to carry strong first half form into the second period of play, but he will be encouraged by the overall competitiveness of his side whose widest losing margin this season is just 7 points.

Wigan: (10) 16
Tries: Withers, Vaealiki
Goals: Richards 3

Harlequins RL: (12) 12
Tries: Heckenberg, Hill
Goals: Sykes, Paul

Thursday 8 March 2007

Quins face battle with Warriors

Quins RL face a tough away trip to the JJB Stadium tomorrow, facing the danger of a backlash from a Wigan team that has started the season slowly despite a clutch of high profile signings during the winter.

The star player of side is undoubtedly former St George-Illawarra standoff Trent Barrett. Barrett played seven times for New South Wales in State of Origin as well as winning seven caps for the Kangaroos. Partnering him in the halves is a player Quins fans will need no introduction to, Thomas Leuluai. It has been suggested that the Wigan side has yet to gel around this new pivotal combination and Brian McDermott will be hoping that this state of affairs will continue tomorrow night.

Up front the Warriors have Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden, a controversial signing from Bradford last season, who unluckily for Quins appears to be pulling out of a recent run of poor form. Kiwi international prop Iafeta Paleaaesina also gives the Wigan outfit great go forward with his barnstorming runs. Around the rucks Quins will have to watch out for scooting runs from livewire hooker Mickey Higham, whilst former London Bronco Shane Millard is likely to mix things up with a more physical approach from dummy half.

In the backs Michael Withers and David Vaealiki are solid players capable of doing a professional job whilst former Australian international Phil Bailey also boasts plenty of top-class experience albeit he is likely to play at centre rather than the back-row where he spent most of his NRL career. One to watch out for is youngster Chris Ashton who saw a meteoric rise last season with some outstanding performances playing mainly at fullback.

In recent years Wigan have been accused of a counter productive short-term approach to team building, with promising youngsters often being forced in favour of high profile, but well past their prime, imports, only to see these players develop with other clubs. The decline of a club that once dominated UK rugby league as the only professional club in an otherwise semi-professional sport has been tough on fans with high expectations, but to their credit the crowds have remained loyal even when the side flirted with relegation last season.

On the Quins side Brian McDermott will be hoping his side manages to avoid the loss of concentration that saw Warrington overturn a 12 point lead last week. The contest between Danny Orr and Leuluai who traded places in the off season is likely to have a major influence on the match. Elsewhere Tyrone Smith is tipped to return to the side after spending last week in the senior academy, as is Michael Worrincy who is also named in the squad after also missing out against Warrington.

A win tomorrow night would be a major boost to the Quins, proving that the form they showed in the first three rounds was no fluke but they will need to be wary of a Wigan side containing plenty of quality.

Monday 5 March 2007

Skolars fall to Crusaders

Yesterday saw London Skolars go down 4 – 28 against Celtic Crusaders in the home leg of their Group Six National Rail Cup clash. The loss leaves the Skolars without a win in four National Rail Cup games this season, although the London outfit were handed arguably the toughest draw with their group containing National League Two favourites Crusaders and top National League One sides Widnes and Leigh.

The match itself was something of a mud bath following constant rain on the New River pitch, but the Crusders side adjusted best to the poor conditions to ease to a comfortable victory. The Skolars knowing that all realistic chance of progressing in the competition had gone took the opportunity to rest some key players with one eye on next week’s Challenge Cup third round clash away at Bradford amateur side West Bowling.

London Skolars: (0) 4
Tries: Simms
Goals:

Celtic Crusaders: (22) 28
Tries: G.Davies, Quinn, Ballard 2, Richards
Goals: Quinn 4

Sunday 4 March 2007

Quins left to rue chances as Wolves take spoils

Quins RL saw their unbeaten start to the Super League season ended yesterday afternoon at The Twickenham Stoop, after failing to overcome a committed Warrington side.

It was the home side that started the brightest, with Matt Gafa going over under the sticks after six minutes following some slick passing exchanges between Mark McLinden and Scott Hill. On fourteen minutes it was Hill’s turn to power over following some good link play from halves partner Danny Orr. With Paul Sykes adding on both conversions things were looking good for the Quins.

However, Warrington regrouped and within three minutes Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson stood up the left hand side of Quins defence to glide in for the Wolves opening try. Skipper Lee Briers who was to have an off day with his placekicking missed the conversion. Ten minutes later powerful winger Henry Fa’afili went in at the corner, again highlighting a weakness in the left hand side of the Quins defence. With Briers missing the attempted conversion, the score remained at 12 – 8 going into the break despite some strong pressure from a Warrington side looking to get a roll on.

Warrington looked by far the brighter of the two sides in the second half and it was Fa’afili who was to go in again ten minutes after the break. A third missed conversion from Briers brought the scores level at 12 – 12.

The score spurred the Quins on to up their efforts, but despite good intentions attacking the team was unable to put together the combinations to unlock a resolute Warrington defence. Scott Hill in particular was to endure a miserable second half, making some poor choices and on several occasions finding himself out of step with his teammates.

The decisive score came on sixty-four minutes when winger Brent Grose combined with fullback Stuart Reardon to unlock a bamboozled Quins defence. This time Briers handed the kicking duties to Chris Bridges who slotted over the conversion to put the visitors 12 – 18 up.

Quins continued to chip away at the Warrington defence, but too often found a dropped ball or a loose pass ending promising moves. In the last ten minutes Lee Briers began hunting for one of his trademark drop goal, eventually finding his range on seventy-four minutes and effectively killing the contest.

Whilst there is no cause to panic in the Quins camp, Brian McDermott will be rueing his sides tendency to start well but then struggle in the second half of games. The left hand side of the defence appears to be an area of weakness, whilst the coach will be hoping that his side quickly builds a greater understanding with star signing Scott Hill quickly.

Harlequins RL: (12) 12
Tries: Gafa, Hill
Goals: Sykes 2

Warrington: (8) 19
Tries: Martin Gleeson, Fa’afili 2, Reardon
Goals: Bridge
Drop Goals: Briers

Friday 2 March 2007

Skolars face Crusaders at home

London Skolars face the Celtic Crusaders at New River this Sunday in their latest Group Six Northern Rail Cup match. The club will be looking for a better return from the away leg of the clash in Bridgend two weeks ago when a flurry of late tries from the Crusaders saw them run out 44 – 28 winners in what had been a keenly contested match.

Skolars coach Latham Tawhai remains upbeat despite three losses on the bounce, with his side showing encouraging signs against higher division opposition Leigh and Widnes that they can be a competitive force in National League Two this season.

Thursday 1 March 2007

Quins find Wolves at the door

Saturday will see the visit of Warrington Wolves, one of Super League’s most unpredictable and entertaining sides. Led by the mercurial Lee Briers, one of British rugby league’s most debated players, the Wolves sit in sixth place on the ladder after three rounds, with tight wins over Wigan and Hull, and a defeat against current table toppers Bradford.

Wolves coach Paul Cullen will definitely be without star signing Adrian Morley who is out with a fractured eye socket sustained in round one, along with standoff Chris Bridge who tore a hamstring against Wigan. However, experienced back-rower Mike Wainwright will provide more than capable cover for Morley and former Cronulla halfback Michael Sullivan will provide plenty of guidance steering the side alongside Briers.

In the backs Warrington are likely to miss winger Richie Barnett, but still have some Great Britain internationals Paul Johnson, Martin Gleeson and Stuart Reardon, whilst Brent Grose and Henry Fa’afili offer a combination of power and pace down the flanks. Former Kiwi international winger Fa’afili is likely to be a particular threat on the end of Briers attacking kicking game.

Up front Warrington have some formidable options with powerful former Kiwi prop Paul Rauhihi one to watch. Back-row players Ben Westwood and Vinnie Anderson offer plenty of mobility to the pack, whilst Mark Gleeson and former London player Jon Clarke offer contrasting styles of dummy half play at hooker.

Undoubtedly the key to stopping Warrington will be shutting down Lee Briers, who has become a talismanic presence for the Wolves since his switch from hometown club St Helens ten years ago. Briers possesses one of the most complete kicking games in British rugby league; his forty-twenty kicks are a major weapon in the Wolves armoury and his noted drop-goal skills have snatched late points for the side on many occasions. However, he is not regarded as a particularly physical player nor as a particularly effective defender and sides that shut him down usually find that the whole Warrinton side loses cohesion as a result.

As far as Quins are concerned the only major injury is to second-row Lee Hopkins who fractured a rib in last week’s win over Hull KR. Prop Daniel Heckenberg is available for selection for the first time this season and new signing Richard Villasanti is expected to come into contention to make his debut for the club.

The return to fitness of Quins own talisman Mark McLinden is also expected to create a headache for Brian McDermott; Chris Melling has been an outstanding performer in McLinden’s regular fullback slot in his absence, whilst the hooker and halves combinations are also gelling well. Speculation is that the versatile Melling may move to either the centre or wing with either Tyrone Smith or Matt Gafa making way.


Whatever the final line-ups the match is likely to serve up an entertaining spectacle between two sides that have shown promising form in the opening rounds of Super League.

March 2007 Fixtures

Super League:

Game: Quins RL Vs Warrington Wolves
Location: Twickenham Stoop
Date/Time: Saturday 03rd March, 15:00.

Game: Wigan Warriors Vs Quins RL
Location: JJB Stadium, Wigan
Date/Time: Friday 05th March, 20:00.

Game: Quins RL Vs Bradford Bulls
Location: Twickenham Stoop
Date/Time: Saturday 17th March, 15:00

Game: Leeds Rhinos Vs Quins RL
Location: Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds
Date/Time: Friday 23rd March, 20:00.

Challenge Cup:

Game: West Bowling Vs Quins RL
Location: Halifax
Date/Time: Saturday 10th March

Game: Pia XIII Vs Quins RL
Location: Pia, France
Date/Time: Saturday 31st March

Northern Rail Cup:

Game: London Skolars Vs Leigh Centurions
Location: New River Stadium, Tottenham
Date/Time: Sunday 4th March, 15:00.

Game: London Skolars Vs Leigh Centurions
Location: New River Stadium, Tottenham
Date/Time: Sunday 18th March, 15:00.

Amateur Rugby League:

Details of fixtures to follow as announced.

Disclaimer:
Please note that all fixtures information is as published by the RFL and or the clubs. However this may be subject to change and it is best to check with the clubs before travelling.

Oxford take 2007 Varsity title

Oxford University took the bragging rights last night, overcoming arch-rivals Cambridge University 20 – 16 in the 27th Pcubed Rugby League Varsity match.

Cambridge, looking for their third consecutive win and pre-match favourites following last year’s 44 – 0 victory, started strongest with Kelvin Donald going in for the first try in the opening minutes.

On seven minutes Oxford opted to pull back 2 points, via the boot of Andrew Cook, with a penalty awarded in front of the sticks at the north end of the ground following a high tackle. The decision to take the penalty so early in the game perhaps a sign of Oxford’s desire not to be nilled this year and a mark of respect for the Cambridge defence.

Just five minutes later a blistering 70 metre effort from Varsity veteran Dave Bulley saw Cambridge add their second try, pushing their lead to 6 points. However, two minutes later Oxford were to register their first try through Andrew Benger, following a passage of brilliant play from fullback Cook, although the final pass in the move had more than a suspicion of forward about it. Cook’s conversion left the scores level at 8 - 8.

It was into the closing ten minutes of the first half before we were to see more points added, with Oxford finally hitting the lead when winger Dave Black crossed following some crafty play from halfback Duncan Knox. The ever reliable boot of Cook tagged on the extra 2 points sending Oxford into the half-time break at 14 – 8 up.

The first twenty minutes of the second half were to be a tight affair, with both sides impressing with their commitment to take the game to the opposition and ability to stick to a structured game plan. The game was played at a frenetic pace for an amateur tie, with good lines of running, particularly off the ball, demonstrated by both teams along with some particularly robust defence.

Cambridge were to be the first over the whitewash in the second half, Matt Bray powering over following a good spell of consistent pressure on the Oxford defence. Skipper Dave Bulley added the conversion to level the scores at 14 -14 and set-up a grandstand finish, animating the vociferous and highly partisan crowd.

Both sides spurned several chances to claim the lead in the final quarter, but it was Oxford who gained the advantage when prop Jonny Prescott, one of the players in the squad benefiting from a rugby league scholarship, crashed over for the crucial try. Cook’s inevitable conversion pushing the lead out 20 – 14. Oxford now had the scent of victory in their nostrils although Cambridge refused to give in, throwing every last ounce of energy into their attacks, but it was Oxford who had the best chance in the dying minutes, spurning a chance to put the game beyond all doubt. In the end they clung on to their six point lead, spurring joyous celebrations from players and fans alike on the final whistle.

The increasing profile of this fixture can only be a good thing for rugby league in generating greater support for sport amongst those who control corporate budgets. For a sport that has long been considered the antithesis of the traditional Oxbridge cultures to be establishing itself as a genuine fixture amongst the current students and alumni of these institutions demonstrates how far rugby league has come in its struggle to break out of the insular mindset that was once, if only partially, responsible for chaining it to its traditional heartlands.

Oxford University: (14) 20
Tries: Benger, Black, Prescott
Goals: Cook 4

Cambridge University: (8) 14
Tries: Donald, Bulley, Bray
Goals: Bulley