Grant delivers decisive blow as Cambridge double up
It took a superb 77th-minute solo try from centre Coreen Grant to clinch a dramatic comeback win for Cambridge in the Women’s Varsity Match at Twickenham.
Grant sliced through the Oxford midfield from a scrum before stepping off her right foot to beat two more scrambling defenders and score from 45 metres.
That moment of late, individual brilliance cruelly denied Oxford, who led since the end of the first quarter and fought to within touching distance of victory thanks to defiant defence and clever kicking in persistent drizzle. “We’d been behind the whole game, but knew we had more to give,” said Grant, an exscotland Under-20 international. “I’d quite like to watch the try back, but I think it will stand out for a long time as a special memory.”
Oxford had taken the lead through prop Jessi Abele, who muscled over after a period of pick-andgo carries. Abby D’cruz could not add a tricky conversion for Oxford and a deep restart, with some ferocious counter-rucking, presented Hannah Vandersluis with an immediate chance for Cambridge. The full-back cut the deficit to two points from the tee.
Oxford were hampered by a stream of breakdown penalties and lost openside flanker Phoebe Haste to the sin-bin in the 32nd minute.
Cambridge appeared to have manufactured an overlap with eight minutes left, but Bluebell Nicholls chipped through rather than feeding Vandersluis. However, Grant’s wonderful run snatched them a third consecutive Varsity triumph.
Scores
Oxford University
Cambridge University
Referee