The highest scoring Varsity match since 1960 ended in bitter defeat for the Dark Blues, as their rowing counterparts claimed victory downriver. Two late goals ended Oxford’s hopes of winning a game that started full of promise.  After going behind and then equalising three times, they were two minutes away from extra time when a defensive mix up gifted Cambridge the lead.  A fourth equaliser was beyond even tenacious Oxford, and as they pushed men forward Cambridge scored their fifth in the last minute.

The opening few minutes were open, with chances at both ends.  Tom Wherry headed a corner narrowly wide, while at the other end Cambridge centre forward Matt Stock was well tackled by Toby Hodgson having outmuscled Paul Rainford.  Stock was a constant threat, and scored the first of his four goals after twelve minutes.  A Cambridge free-kick from out wide was headed back across goal, and while Oxford stood and watched, Stock turned the ball in at the far post.

Despite Stock’s menace, Oxford were increasingly confident on the ball as the first half progressed.  The two wide men, Homer Sullivan and James Kelly linked well with Alex Toogood as an equaliser looked increasingly likely.  It came after thirty-three minutes, when Sullivan cut in from the right wing and powered the ball past Cambridge goalkeeper James Dean.

The sloppiness which was to afflict Oxford all afternoon showed itself again minutes before the interval.  An almost unopposed Cambridge counterattack culminated in Matt Stock’s second goal as he lobbed the onrushing David Robinson.

Undeservedly trailing at half time, a re-energised Oxford team equalised seconds after the restart.  Sullivan broke down the right, playing in Toogood, whose shot was turned in by Kelly at the far post.  The momentum was lost, however, just three minutes later. The onset of rain during the interval dampened the pitch, and a hopeful pass skidded past Oxford’s defence.  Matt Stock picked up the ball in the right hand channel and slotted past Robinson for his hat-trick.

As the weather deteriorated, so did the quality of football.  For the next twenty minutes torrential rain prevented any good passing from either side. Oxford replaced Niko de Walden and Cameron Knight with James Howell and Sam Hall.

With twenty minutes remaining, the rain relented and the two substitutes almost combined to score: Hall put Howell through but the shot was well saved by Dean.  Two minutes later the combination was more successful: Howell this time squaring to Alex Toogood who converted Oxford’s third equaliser of the afternoon.

An increasingly stretched match saw chances at both ends.  Howell, bringing the best out of Toogood, went close, as did Cambridge substitutes Matt Amos and Mark Baxter.  With three minutes left, an Alex Toogood header could have won the match, but produced a full length save.  It seemed as though the CB Fry Trophy would be decided by penalties for a second successive year.    

Agonisingly for Oxford, Cambridge scored with their next attack. Out of nowhere, Stock was through on goal, leaving the Oxford back four standing.  With characteristic composure, he slid the ball past Robinson for his, and Cambridge’s, fourth. Oxford pushed bravely for yet another equaliser: but Baxter’s cross was headed in by Amos, to seal Cambridge’s third successive Varsity win.

EYEWITNESS: Phil Satterthwaite gives a first-hand account of the final

After two tough leagues, we knew that we had to step up in Cuppers and earn the reputation that previous Hall sides had built up. The team was finally beginning to gel, building in confidence with each game. As I had said in the Cup Final programme, beating Univ under the floodlights of Iffley Road was a real turning point. However, as much as the win installed a new sense of belief within the Hall side, there was always a danger that we could lose focus after a game worthy of being a final in itself. In a rematch against a very strong Keble side, anything less than the albeit clichéd ‘game of our lives’ would have resulted in yet another Cuppers upset for us.

In similar fashion to the 2007 final, we ran out on to the pitch as underdogs. Even with both sides suffering injuries to key players, there still seemed to be the feeling around the University that Keble were going to win. I will never forget looking around the changing room that evening, and seeing twenty-one other guys who begged to differ.

 The start we’d envisaged didn’t materialise, and we let Keble score the first points of the match. On a plus note, it was apparent from the start that Keble were going to play their usual pattern of rugby – relying on their tight pack of forwards to try and dominate the Hall eight, whilst scoring push-over tries.

Matters up front didn’t improve when our no. 8 Chris Davies had to leave the field after taking a big hit from a Keble flanker. Nevertheless, we managed to retain our composure throughout the first half, going into the tunnel marginally ahead at half time.
The second half began very much like the first, with Keble scoring the first points. From then on, the match became even more open, as both teams alternately troubled the scoreboard for the remaining 40 minutes.

Thanks to the handling and power of our backline, we managed to retain a lead amongst all the tries and penalties being converted. Credit must also be given to our pack, which under some relentless pressure early on, managed to provide quick ball for our backs. By now we had stamped our authority over the flow of play, and if we had proceeded to lose the game, we would have had to live with the knowledge we’d let the game slip away from our grasp.

 The sound of the final whistle was immediately drowned out by our cries of victory and relief. Within minutes I had a bottle of champagne in one hand, and a can of Blackthorn cider in the other. Looking back, we all had one of those moments where what we achieved hadn’t quite sunk in yet. After some time however, as the Hall supporters invaded the pitch, we started to realise that we had once more reached the peak of college rugby. Lifting the trophy was the proudest moment of my rugby life so far. I can speak on behalf of the team when I say that winning Cuppers meant everything to us.

 We were proud to see a number of Aularians in the stands, and we thank them, along with all those who sent us good luck messages. In my time at Teddy Hall, there has always been an underlying rivalry between Keble and ourselves. At the same time, I doubt there are two college teams who have greater mutual respect, and a lot of credit must be given to Keble for an epic cup final.

Lastly, can I say thank you to each player involved in Teddy Hall rugby. You have all contributed to the big ‘30’ in terms of all-time Cuppers victories. Here’s to number thirty-one next season…

Worcester finally regained the Cuppers trophy for the first time since 1950 as an Alex Toogood goal three minutes from the end of extra time ended Teddy Hall’s heroic resistance.

The Worcester juggernaut came into the match feeling justifiably confident of completing the league and cup double. But the favourites tag seemed to weigh heavily upon them, while Teddy Hall rose to the occasion, which led to an intriguing, if not entirely enthralling, contest.

 The Teddy Hall back four would have been expecting a busy afternoon from the Blues strikeforce of Niko de Walden and Alex Toogood, and were surely delighted to discover that de Walden had failed a late fitness test, leaving Toogood as the main threat. John Waldron led his back four superbly, with Caspar Le Fanu, in particular, excelling against the leading scorer in University football. When the defence was eventually breached, Hall were lucky to have Nicola Ielpo, declared fit despite strained ligaments in his right knee, between the sticks. That he was named man-of-the-match was not only indicative of his fine performance, but also of the fact that Worcester did the majority of the pressing.

However, the longer the match went on the more Teddy Hall came into the match, and the traditional ‘big man, little man’ combo of Wilfred Frost and Charlie Talbot-Smith combined admirably despite often finding themselves isolated from the rest of the team. Their two best chances within the ninety minutes fell to the duo either side of half time, but Blues keeper David Robinson produced two fine saves of his own.

 As the match headed into extra time, the tension appeared to be affecting Worcester, and Talbot Smith had a glorious chance to give Teddy Hall the lead after a Frost flick-on from a long throw: his instinctive header from point-blank range flew narrowly wide. With Ielpo still proving equal to anything Worcester could create, Talbot-Smith brought down a long-ball and struck a speculative effort from 30 yards. It seemed to catch Robinson  off-guard, taking an awkward bounce over the keeper’s dive, before creeping agonisingly wide of the left-hand post, to the relief of Worcester.

 This moment proved pivotal in the match as the resulting goal kick was flicked on and knocked over the top for Toogood to chase. The Blues striker did not disappoint, hitting the ball  with the outside of his foot across the keeper. It took a bounce, clipped the inside of the post and nestled in the back of the net. The ensuing celebrations reflected relief as much as elation as Toogood led his team past both sets of fans in the stand. The contrasting emotions were evident. With just three minutes to go the match was as good as won.

 As the final whistle blew, the Worcester celebrations could begin, and after a wait of fifty-eight years, captain Danny Plaxton finally took the cup back into Worcester’s possession.

Summer: a time when strawberries substitute steak pies and Bovril is placed on the top shelf, awaiting the autumn. As the remaining muddy blades of grass wither and the final whistle blows on competitive football in Oxford for another year, the whir of the cricket roller’s motor sounds in the sunshine in preparation for the new cricket season.

Whilst never able to reach the level of anticipation the newly-formed Indian Premier League has gained, Oxford’s league has still gathered a deluge of interest as it enters its eighteenth year. Given the excitement surrounding the new season, it is fitting that the opening day pits two title favourites head-to-head as current champions Balliol hope to build upon last year’s unbeaten league season when they travel to New. This early-season clash will surely set a standard which the other twenty-seven teams in the OICCL will strive to achieve throughout the season. New College captain Alex Asher appears confident of breaking Balliol’s dominance, claiming that his squad “could have achieved more”, despite a highly impressive third-placed finish and a quarter final berth in Cuppers. Despite the loss of Danny Bamford and Chris Leeming, leading run-scorers Sam Tomlin and Tom Howell remain at the crease. Those two, along with Keith Davies and Rinchan Mirza in a quick bowling attack, leave their captain with a genuine cause for optimism in the coming season.

It should never be forgotten that cricket is a game of emotion. The delight of a fine catch standing at backward point or the disgust of succumbing to a bouncer is demonstrated voraciously. It is no surprise therefore that New’s sense of optimism is contrasted with Pembroke’s relief of simply still playing first division cricket this season. Having endured a torrid season which included the loss of their captain, Pembroke steered clear of relegation with two sensational wins in their last two matches. Their miraculous survival allows new captain Bobby Butcher hope that newcomers James Finch and Rod Shepherd will bowl well in order for his side to “cement Pembroke’s reputation as one of the university’s strongest cricket colleges”, and bring some much needed stability to the club.

Like Pembroke, many clubs have a target which they feel is achievable. Newly promoted  Merton/Mansfield, fresh from their unbeaten season in Division 2, believe they could achieve two titles in two years. Their performance could depend on the form of star all-rounder Miles Tomkins, who scored a vast amount of runs in Division 2 and will hope to recreate this form against better opposition. However, the prospect of better opposition doesn’t worry their captain, Greg Betts, who claims that “we definitely have the players to challenge for the title and it’s a case of playing to our ability. It’ll be a step up from the level of opposition last year but I think we should be aiming to be one of the top teams this year.”

Merton/Mansfield’s confidence of succeeding in Division 1 should provide enthusiasm from teams not playing in the top division. Despite the loss of three key players, Magdalen will look to the majestic Dave Winterton to provide the runs to steer the club into the upper elechlons of the league. Losing Cuppers finalists, St Catherine’s, will endeavour to translate their cup form into the league format, whilst Somerville captain Tom Deegan could possibly break college tradition by selecting England Women’s U-21 wicketkeeper Sophie Le Marchand for the club. The resolute Mancunian captain hopes that Le Marchand, along with bowler Nick Thomas and opening batsman James Cox, are auspicious inclusions to the squad, stating that he believes Somerville have a “realistic chance of a good Cuppers run”.

Although most of the captains will disagree with their counterparts’ apprisals of the season ahead, one thing which elicits agreement is the hope for summer sunshine. A mammoth thirty-three league matches fell victim of bad weather last season, including a potential relegation decider between Hertford and Wadham. 

All evidence points to a fantastic season of cricket. The teams are in place and ready; the Groundsmen have spent hours with the gentle murmur of the cricket roller and the Bovril is firmly lodged at the rear of the cupboard. All that is required now is the sunshine. Although that can’t be guaranteed, the vehemence of the desire to win from the cricketers can be, which will provide a flurry of fours, a stack of sixes and extravagant entertainment for the next nine weeks.