Publications
Partners
London - Oxford won the 130th Varsity match 28-10 at Twickenham here on Thursday, denying Cambridge captain and former Canada centre Matt Guinness-King a victorious farewell to rugby union.
Guinness-King, who played for Canada at the 2003 World Cup, had said beforehand that the latest edition of the annual clash between England's two oldest universities would be his final match before retirement.
But there was no fairytale farewell for the nine-times capped midfielder as Oxford scored 15 unanswered second half points to record a second successive Varsity win.
And in a match where the tradition of former captains acting as touch judges was revived, with Australia and Oxford star Joe Roff running the line for the Dark Blues, Cambridge were fortunate to end the match with 15 men on the pitch.
Light Blues forward Dave Allen punched Oxford captain John Carter but although the incident was witnessed by the television cameras, it went unseen by experienced English referee Dave Pearson.
To make matters worse for Oxford, while the impressive Carter was off the field receiving treatment, Cambridge scored a penalty try after the Dark Blues pulled down a scrum near their own line.
But when impressive former Sale back-row Carter, sporting a black eye, returned to galvanise a strong pack effort, the result was rarely in doubt.
Prop Will Kane, lock Karl Outen and flyhalf Tom Mitchell scored tries for the Dark Blues.
Cambridge flyhalf Steve Townend kicked a penalty and conversion.
Despite the penalty try, Oxford were 13-10 in front at half-time after Kane powered over from close range early on for a converted try.
And it was in the third quarter where Oxford secured victory, a driving lineout leading to Outen's try before a penalty all but made the game safe.
England Sevens international Mitchell, following a well-worked backline move, then crossed 10 minutes from time to set the seal on Oxford's win.
