Light Blues inVarsity double

CAMBRIDGE University took both the men’s and women’s Varsity trophies with victories over Oxford University at Twickenham.

The 136th men’s fixture saw the Light Blues resist a late Oxford fightback to retain the trophy with a 20-10 win.

Cambridge led 13-3 through tries from Chris Bell and Archie Russell before Will Wilson reduced the deficit, but Charlie Amesbury sealed victory.

The Light Blues included Haverfordwest-born openside flanker Stephen Leonard, while Welsh Exiles product Mike Phillips at outside-half and Cardiff-born Sam Troughton were on the bench.

In the earlier women’s match, Cambridge ran in two tries in each half for a convincing 24-0 win.

Olchfa Comprehensive School twins Fiona and Jennifer Shuttleworth, were both in the Cambridge match-day squad, while Bishop Gore tight-head prop Tamsin Banner, exRydal Penrhoes pupil Laura NunezMulder, and Cardiff Sixth Form College product Samantha Chan were also in the victorious squad.

After a scoreless opening 37 minutes in torrential rain at times, Jess Gurney bundled over to open the scoring for the Light Blues.

Captain Lara Gibson added a superb second try moments later, collecting Alice Middleton’s chip over the top to race under the posts from 40 metres out.

Cambridge completed an easy victory after the break, scrum-half Kate Marks powering through to dot down, before Bluebell Nicholls completed the scoring with a simple runin at the corner.