Alex King added a third in the final move of the match and had Jamie Benson’s two earlier conversions not hit the upright, the great escape might have been completed.

Match details

Scorers: Oxford: Tries: L Wyllie, N Civetta, A Durutalo; Cons: D Wilkinson 3. Cambridge: Tries: L Parry, D Obembe, A King; Con: J Benson

Oxford: S Reynolds (Sherborne & University); L Wyllie (St Hilda’s), L Furniss (Michaelhouse & Kellogg), L Jackson * (King Edward VI, Stratford & Oriel, captain), H Hackett * (The Perse & Christ Church); D Wilkinson (Tonbridge & St Edmund Hall), C Grant * (The Oratory & St Anne’s); T Osborne (St Joseph’s, Sydney & Trinity), A Post # (Harrow & St Cross), E Fry # (Jesuit HS, USA & Keble), P Von Dadelszen * (Whitgift & St Edmund Hall), N Civetta # (Scarsdale HS, USA & Wolfson), E Friend * (Blundell’s & St Cross), M Mason (Tauranga Boys HS, NZ & St Cross), A Durutalo * # (Suva HS, Fiji &Green Templeton)

Reps Used: C Papworth * (Sedbergh & Jesus) for Durutalo 54; B Vaughan * (Bradford GS & Corpus Christi) for Fry 66; T Humberstone * (Peter Symonds College & Jesus) for Wilkinson 68; O Marriott-Clarke * (Eton & Magdalen) for Wyllie 75; L Wright * (Dulwich & Trinity) for Post 79; E Blake (King’s College, Wimbledon & St Hilda’s) for Civetta 79; A Friend (Blundell’s & St Anne’s) for Reynolds 79; G Coningham (RGS, Newcastle & St John’s) for Osborne 79

Cambridge: J Benson (Hampton School & Downing); D Russell * (Havant & South Downs College & St John’s), S Chibale * (SA College Schools & Queens’), M Loveridge (Nottingham HS & Jesus), T Andrew (Pates GS & Jesus), T Flood (Kings Tynemouth & Queens’) #, C Favell * (Bishop Stortford College & Homerton); B Jackson * (Minster School & Sidney Sussex), J Wright (Fallibroome Academy & Jesus), M Pettit * (RGS, Lancaster & Clare), C Friend (Harrow & St John’s), Z Bischoff * (Magdalen College School, Oxford & St John’s), S Leonard * (Llandovery College & Emmanuel, Captain), T Walton (Nottingham HS & St John’s), A Smeaton * (Hymers College & Queens’)

Red Card: C Friend 9

Reps Used: D Obembe * (St George’s Weybridge & Churchill) for Leonard 11; A King (Kings College, Wimbledon & St Catharine’s) for Loveridge 52; P Harris (The Henley College & Hughes Hall) for Jackson 63; L Parry * (Merchant Taylors’ Northwood & Downing) for Wright 66; D Montesino Jones (Kings College, Wimbledon & St John’s) for Smeaton 72; L Marwood (Hymers College & St Edmund’s) or Petit 76; J Kururangi * (St Kentigern College & St Edmund’s) for Bischoff 78; D Holdroyd (Adams’ GS & Jesus) for Favell 78;

* Blue
+ International

Referee: A Jackson (RFU)

Oxford Women 10 Cambridge Women 10

Cambridge brought the grunt, but Oxford had the guile, and in the end it was the latter that almost won the day.

Instead, the more physical approach from Cambridge just got them over the line with an equalising try from their Mexican prop Vianney Gomezgil Yaspik with six minutes left to play. Laura Vass had the chance to win the game with her conversion, but sent it wide.

That was probably the best outcome become Jessica Abele’s Oxford side had been forced to suck up so much pressure and the front and back ends of the game they deserved to get something out of the game.

Having been on the winning Cambridge side in 2018, Abele was hoping to make history by becoming the first player to win in both shades of blue and her team came mightily close to upsetting the odds. Thy did at least halt Cambridge’s run of four successive wins in what was the first draw in the 35 year history of the fixture.

“We had so many chances going wide and it was the last little touches that were missing to win the game. There were a lot of penalties early on and that’s what led to me getting a yellow card,” said Abele.

“But we will go away with our heads held high. It was an incredible performance and I’m immensely proud of my team.”