MATCH REPORT | Oxford Women 52-8 Cambridge Women

Oxford University won the Women’s Varsity Match for the second year in a row, and the 24th time in their history as they dominated the Annual Showpiece to beat Cambridge University 52-8 at StoneX Stadium.

The Dark Blues were in control from start to finish, scoring eight tries in a powerful display which meant they once again lifted the trophy in North London.

Cambridge had all of the possession and territory in the early exchanges as scrum-half Ella Glazier controlled the tempo of the match with some wide passes and quickly taken penalties. 

Oxford’s ill-discipline meant they couldn’t get out of their half, even as Milly Gladstone intercepted and looked to run the length against the run of play, proceedings were brought back for offside. 

They then did manage to wrestle back some momentum, some nice play from Chloe-Marie Hawley and Kat Vincent in space took them up towards the 22. Emma Jones then carried right up to the line before Sophie Goodman was held up over the line brilliantly by the Cambridge defence and they somehow survived the onslaught. 

The pressure then told for Oxford with 15 minutes gone as they took the lead. They went through the phases in the 22 and Amelie Harris-Lovett burst through a gap to stretch over and open the scoring. The conversion put the Dark Blues 7-0 ahead. 

Oxford were looking to put the hammer down and had another chance with 20 minutes gone as Lilla Berry broke in the outside channel but her inside offload went down and Cambridge got the scrum. 

Amelia Edwards thought out of nowhere she had got Cambridge level as she intercepted and marched towards the line, but agonisingly play was brought back and Oxford then extended their lead.

From the penalty, Hawley carried up to the line and then Melissa Morley was never going to be stopped from just a metre out. The conversion went wide, but Oxford now had a 12-0 lead as we approached half time. 

It almost got better for Oxford five minutes later as Beth Thomas broke from the base of a breakdown and charged in to the Cambridge half, but the defence managed to scramble back. 

On the stroke of half time Oxford then gave themselves even more breathing space as they went thorough the phases in the 22 and then Sophie Goodman powered over from close range for try number three. Hawley’s conversion gave them a 19-0 lead as both teams went down the tunnel for half time. 

The sun came out for the second half and it kept shining on Oxford as they continued to dominate just after the break. 

Penalty after penalty meant they were camped on the Cambridge line, and after staying patient, former Saracen Sophie Shams powered over at her old stomping ground. The conversion sailed through as the lead grew to 26-0. 

However, just as Cambridge looked down and out an incredible solo try from Esther Makourin gave them hope of an incredible comeback. The winger got the ball on the halfway line and stepped past three defenders before using her searing pace to race all the way over. 

The hopes of a comeback were somewhat stalled however with an hour gone, as Oxford again utilised their physical dominance and this time it was Matilda Lees who stretched over from close range to put the result beyond doubt as the lead now stood at 33-5. 

Harris-Lovett then scored her second of the afternoon as she stepped and danced to the line to slide under the posts, and with the conversion they reached the 40 point mark on a special day for Oxford. 

Try number seven arrived with five minutes to go, as this time it was the turn of Kim Lopez Guell to join the party as she got past her opposite number and went round the outside to send the fans wild. 

Isabel Sanchez-Arroyo was then sent to the sin-bin for Cambridge, and Oxford capitalised straight away as Shams broke in to the 22 and then Charlotte Scowen powered over to put even more gloss on the scoreboard and bring up the half century. 

Charlotte Cooper got Cambridge on the board for the first time in the second half with a penalty as we drew towards a close. 

That proved to be the last notable act of one of the best days in the history of Oxford Women, and they lifted the trophy with enormous smiles to confirm Varsity Victory.