CURUFC 7-27 OURFC: Women's Varsity Match 2025

Oxford Women regained the bragging rights as they dominated the Varsity Match to beat Cambridge Women 27-7 at a sun-drenched StoneX Stadium. 

The Dark Blues raced in to a 15-0 in the first half and they never looked back, scoring five tries in total to ensure they would take the trophy home for the 24th time.

Oxford started strongly and dominated the early exchanges but struggled to convert their chances in to points on the scoreboard. 

Skipper Alex Wilkinson looked to lead by example and broke in to the 22, but after passing out wide to Katie Hains she was tracked down and then Cambridge managed to turn the ball over.

They had another chance just two minutes later, but the ball bounced out Victoria Kennedy’s grasp and popped in to the hands of their opponents. 

Despite having all of the possession an territory Oxford were unable to break through an eager Cambridge defence, who were being helped by Elina McGregor’s boot which got them out of trouble on many occasions. 

Former Saracen Sophie Shams looked to mark her return to her old stomping ground with a try, and intercepted a pass inside the opposition half but couldn’t quite evade the defence. 

The Dark Blues continued to dominate possession, and another chance arrived when Lucy Hamer broke in to the 22, but the audacious offload to Lilla Berry went in to touch.

The pressure finally turned in to points on the 20 minute mark as they made no mistake from their next opportunity. Shams took the ball up to the line and then released Katie Hains down the wing who showed impressive pace who dived over in the corner. The conversion went wide, but Oxford now had a 5-0 lead.

That lead doubled just before the half hour, they had more joy down the left wing and Hains once again found herself in acres of space to dot down in the corner. 

It got even better for Oxford just before the break, a looping pass was picked off by Berry and she raced clear from 40 metres to give them a commanding 15-0 lead which is how it stayed until the break. 

Cambridge needed a fast start to the second half to get back in to the match, and that’s exactly what they got. Shams was sent to the sin-bin for killing the ball, and they took full advantage as Zoe Wright took the penalty quickly and bundled over from close range. The conversion cut the deficit to just eight points. 

Just when they needed it most though Oxford hit back, a lovely inside ball from a ruck saw Hamer race through a gap and step past the final defender to score their fourth of the afternoon. 

They had to weather a Cambridge onslaught who were refusing to give in, but then put the result beyond doubt when Chloe Maria-Hawley bundled over from close range and converted her own try to put Oxford 27-7 ahead with 15 minutes remaining. 

Cheered on by their raucous fans, the ball was then smashed in to the stands and the celebrations began for those wearing Dark Blue. 

Oxford: 

15 Lucy Hamer (Smith, 77) 14 Lilla Berry 13 Poppy Burrows 12 Victoria Kennedy 11 Katie Hains (Vincent, 72) 10 Chloe-Maria Hawley 9 Alex Wilkinson (c)1 Estelle Onwuka (Williams, 73) 2 Michele Szegda (Goodman, 62) 3 Tolu Duckworth (McBride, 79) 4 Madison Quig (Drake, 77) 5 Clara Stromsted (Hedges, 65) 6 Sky Steward-Roberts 7 Amelie Harris-Lovett (Rosin, 73) 8 Sophie Shams

Replacements:

16 Sophie Goodman 17 Liz Drake 18 Marged Williams 19 Izzy Hedges 20 Lucy McBride 21 Olivia Rosin 22 Kat Vincent 23 Libby Smith  

Scorers:

Tries: Katie Hains (20, 27 minutes) Lilla Berry (32 minutes) Lucy Hamer (50 minutes) Chloe Maria-Hawley (65 minutes)

Conversion: Chloe Maria-Hawley (65 minutes)

Yellow Card: Sophie Shams (43 minutes)

Cambridge: 

15 Bryher Smith (Newton-Ingham, 68) 14 Carmen Embil 13 Alice Yau 12 Phoebe Jackson 11 Safia Chaoui (Lord, 40) 10 Elina McGregor (Haspel, 29) 9 Ella Glazier 1 Bethan Jones (c) (Ubom, 41) 2 Morgan Warner (Chadirchi, 72) 3 Ella Heathfield (Weatherhogg, 65) 4 Lucy Harding Latimer, 40) 5 Zoe Wright 6 Izzi Millar 7 Sophie Martin (Crozier, 40) 8 Ali-Mae Brown

Replacements:

16 Poppy Latimer 17 Carys Weatherhogg 18 Nadia Chadirchi 19 Sara Crozier 20 Faith Ubom 21 Caragh Haspel 22 Charlotte Lord 23 Lucy Newton-Ingham 

Scorers:

Try: Zoe Wright (43 minutes)

Conversion: Phoebe Jackson (43 minutes)

Half Time Score: Oxford 15-0 Cambridge 

Player of the Match: Tolu Duckworth