Cambridge University Match
6th February 2013, Grange Road

Result: Cambridge University 17 HSBC Penguins 31

On a bitterly cold but dry evening the efforts of both teams warmed the huddled spectators. Playing with ball in hand and keeping possession alive seemed the mantra of each team as the first fifteen minutes saw rugby played at breakneck speed.

The Penguins had most possession but the defence and counter attack of the students were potent and led to tries for Cook and Smith with Abraham getting one conversion. The Penguins were slowly getting used to each other and from a turnover deep in their own 22m area they quickly passed the ball to skipper Martin Nutt who sprinted 60 metres to score with Scott Hadden converting. Driving play through the forwards had Cambridge on the back foot but a sloppy pass was intercepted and this allowed Abraham to race away and score, thus securing a 17-7 half time lead for the hosts.

Whatever words were used at half time by the Penguin coaches, Steve Hill and Carl Douglas appeared to have the desired effect. Strong running from No 8 Juliano Fiori and centre Ewan Wilson saw flanker Dave O’Brien score not once but twice. Nutt was at the heart of all that was good in the backs and with Hadden at fly half calling the shots, the Cambridge defence started to falter. A strong finish from hooker Igino Corradi put the Penguins into a one score lead and this was added to when nuggety scrum half Paul Nash took on two huge defenders and still managed to offload to Rossiter to score. This was a cracking game of rugby where the Penguins had to draw on their superior power and experience to subdue and finally overcome a very determined Cambridge University team.

The Teams

Cambridge University

Cook; Hudson, Murdoch, Holmes, Smith; Abraham, Tullie; Briggs, Mallaband, Wyman, Brakeley, Mather, Kelly, Wolfe, Malaney.

Replacements: Cowan, Marshall, Alderson, Palacios, Exton, Lloyd, Cherezov, Smith, Gill.

Penguin International XV

15: Jaryd Robinson (Bournemouth), 14: Charlie Whiteley (Richmond), 13: Martin Nutt (Henley - Captain), 12: Joe Crust (Blackheath), 11: Paul Unseld (Rosslyn Park), 10: Scott Hadden (Civil Service), 9: Paul Nash (Richmond), 1: Ali Kent (Rosslyn Park), 2: Ben Gotting (Rosslyn Park), 3: Tom Jones (Richmond), 4: Dan Lloyd Jones (Rosslyn Park), 5: Tim Little (OURFC), 6: Dave O’Brien (Richmond), 7: Craig Everett (Treorchy), 8: Juliano Fiori (Richmond).

Replacements: Kerry O’Sullivan (Richmond), Igino Corradi (Civil Service),James Taylor (Richmond), Lee Covington (Blackheath) Sam Eyndenman (Blackheath) Ewan Wilson (Imperial Medics), Jak Rossiter (Richmond), Gaku Tanaka (Kyoto University)

Scorers:
11min Cook try (5-0), 15 Smith try – Abraham con (12-0), 35 Nutt try – Hadden con (12-7), 40+1 Abraham try (17-7), 54 O’Brien try (17-12), 57 O’Brien try – Hadden con (17-19), 70 Corradi try (17-24), 76 Rossiter try – Hadden con (17-31)