MATCH REPORT | Oxford Men 37-25 Cambridge Men

Oxford University won the Varsity Match for the first time since 2022, and for the first time since the move to StoneX Stadium as they beat Cambridge 37-25 in a thrilling encounter. 

The Dark Blues won the battle of the forwards with four tries coming from rolling mauls alone as they overpowered their rivals to wrestle back the trophy and spark wild scenes in North London, making it an Oxford double in 2026.

Even from the kick off the physicality was on show, as Ben Shaw chased the kick down and his enormous hit on his opposite number set the tone for the day. 

Oxford were looking to build on the momentum provided by the Women’s team, and almost scored after just three minutes as Harry Bridgewater’s wide pass found Wolfe Morn on the wing but he dropped the ball in the process of dotting it down. 

They scored form the next attack though to take the lead after just five minutes. A penalty was kicked to the corner, and Will Roddy stayed at the base of the maul to rumble over and give his side an early 5-0 advantage.

Cambridge looked to hit back straight away and Ben Cook dummied from the base of a ruck but got brought down just short, however James Wyse crashed over from the next phase of play to bring them level, and George Bland’s conversion gave them a 7-5 lead. 

Oxford almost responded immediately as Josh Hallett’s grubber in behind caused chaos in the back-field and Morn tracked it down, but he was penalised for holding on and Cambridge managed to clear. 

They did hit the front with 24 minutes gone though with their second try of the afternoon. Shaw’s slaloming run saw him enter the 22, and then Hallett’s looped pass wide to Morn allowed the winger to cross in the corner, and give his side a 10-7 lead. 

Otis Walker almost made it even better for Oxford just two minutes later as his acrobatic break down the left wing saw him charge towards the line, but his offload inside went forward and Cambridge survived. 

Cambridge got level with a simple penalty from straight in front of the posts, as the scoreboard read 10-10 with 30 minutes gone. 

The game then could have flipped on its head as Tim Andrew’s incredible chip and chase resulted in a yellow card for Oxford as Fergus Dick killed the ball and stopped an almost certain try. 

However despite being a man down, Oxford responded with a try of their own to hit the front again. A penalty was kicked to the corner, and once again their trusted rolling maul allowed Roddy to cross again, and give themselves a 15-10 lead at half time.

Oxford then made the perfect start to the second half as Roddy completed his hat-trick from yet another rolling maul in identical fashion to the first two, giving them a 10 point advantage with 35 minutes to go.

Cambridge were gifted the chance to get back in to the game though when a pass went straight in to the dead ball line and gave them a five metre scrum, but just as they stretched to score the ball went forward, much to their frustration. 

They did strike with their next chance though to drag themselves back in to the match. They went through the phases in the 22 and eventually the ball found Patrick Shrimpton who finished powerfully to get them back within five points. 

Oxford kept Cambridge at arms length though as they scored again straight away, with Hallett dotting down from just a metre out, and the conversion from Harry Bridgewater reinstating their 12 point lead. 

Cambridge cut the gap to nine as we entered the final quarter, Bland’s penalty from 30 metres set up a grandstand finish in the StoneX sunshine, however Oxford hit back with a penalty of their own on 65 minutes to go 30-18 ahead. 

Morn was then shown a yellow card for Oxford for a tackle in the air, giving Cambridge one last chance at a comeback. 

That chance evaporated though as remarkably Roddy got his fourth try of the afternoon from the back of a maul to put the result beyond doubt. 

Lewis Cooper got a consolation for Cambridge with five minutes remaining after a lovely one-two with Will Kennedy saw him dive over the line,  but it was too late to have an impact and Oxford smashed the ball in to the stands as the well deserved celebrations began.