Cambridge University Match
Wednesday 18th February 2015, Grange Road, Cambridge

Result: Cambridge University 13 Penguins 57

For the first of the two traditional fixtures with the Oxbridge Universities, Coach Steve Hill managed to pull together a strong squad as the Penguins looked to reverse last year’s loss to Cambridge. Despite regular Penguin player and starting fly-half Howard Graham and his back-up Warren Abraham not making the match as they got stuck in a 19 mile tail back on the M25, the invitational side got off to a flying start and showed that they were in the mood to play clinical, attacking rugby on a night perfect for such ambition.

The Penguins enjoyed an almost flawless first half in which they scored seven tries with the students managing just two penalties in reply. First to cross for the visitors after just 3 minutes was stand-in fly-half Charlie Dockery, who was a thorn in Cambridge’s side all night with his clever distribution and keen eye for the break. Full-back James Love added the straight forward conversion.

Cambridge replied with a penalty from wing Michael Mortimore, but the Penguins quickly extended their lead when flanker Zandy Macdonald broke through the midfield and beat the full-back to score near the posts, with Love again adding the conversion. With just 12 minutes gone, the Penguins scored their third try when another regular wing Martin Nutt showed a good turn of speed to finish off a move in the corner; Love was again on target.

Cambridge then enjoyed a period of pressure but a strong, committed defence from the Penguins restricted them to just a second penalty from Mortimore. With the match just over the quarter mark, Chris Elder who enjoyed a fine game in the centre crossed for the first of his two tries, with Love maintaining his 100% record from the tee. Only minutes later Dockery added his second try, when he won a kick and chase to the line, Love was this time off target from out wide with the conversion.

Former Cambridge University favourite, hooker Pat Crossley was next to score when he showed a surprising turn of pace and the hint of a dummy to scoot down the touchline and beat the cover defence to dive over in the corner, and again Love was off target. The final score of the half was a 70 metre break from Elder, who showed a clean pair of heels to virtually the whole Cambridge team with a fine solo effort, Love adding the extras to make the score at the interval 45 points to 6 in favour of the Penguins.

The students obviously took a bit of a tongue lashing from Coach Andy Key during the break, and as a result they came out in the second half with a lot more purpose and determination which resulted in them conceding just two further tries and scoring one of their own. However, it was the Penguins who started as they left off with the first score of the second period, when replacement wing Mike Donegan showed good balance and strength to burst on to a well-timed pass and score near to the posts, with Love adding his sixth and final conversion for a personal tally of 12 points.

Cambridge hit back not long after when right wing John Wylde, who came on at the interval to add some additional speed out wide, crossed for the home side after 60 minutes with replacement fly-half George Williams adding the conversion from out wide. The remainder of the second half unfortunately didn’t hit the heights of the first with the students determined not to concede so many points and the Penguins lacking the accuracy they showed in the first half. However with just 2 minutes to go the visitors had the last word with another scintillating score started in their own half and finished off by Donegan for his second, to make the final score 57 points to 13.

Man of the Match for the Penguins was young scrum-half Tom Whiteley from Saracens, who displayed excellent distribution skills, a sharp eye for the gap plus a physical presence that belied his stature; surely one to keep an eye out for in the future!

It was very refreshing to see a team come together in true ‘Penguin fashion’ and play with ambition, skill, commitment and spirit without relying on the ‘Playbook’ so commonly seen in league rugby nowadays.

Team

Coach: Steve Hill (Richmond)
Manager: Tim Stevens (Oxford University)