In their opening league match of the season, Cambridge's Rugby League Blues saw off the other place, Oxford’s second team returning home empty-handed after a 26-16 defeat at St John’s playing fields.

Despite the scoreline suggesting a closely contested affair, the Light Blues never looked in trouble as three second half tries added some much-needed gloss to the visitor’s tally. Tries from Aidan Stonehouse (x2), Nat Strange and Max Grant (x2) helped guide Cambridge to victory, whilst robust defense subdued any real Oxford threat.

Were it not for the questionable presence of a few familiar past Oxford Blues, on paper Cambridge might have been big favourites before the 2pm kick-off.

However, this seemed to have little impact on the game’s opening passages, Stonehouse making the first of what would be several break-throughs to dot down in the corner. Minutes later it was déjà vu, but this time a pass from the imperious Stonehouse found Tom Hardman, who barrelled over to double the host’s lead to 8-0, both tries going unconverted.

Cambridge continued to win the territorial battle for the majority of the first half, eventually allowing Nat Strange to ghost under the posts for the third try of the match, this time with the extras inevitably added (14-0).

The fixture did not continue to be so one-sided.  Defence became the order of the day for Cambridge before half-time amidst relentless Oxford pressure. Big hits from Grant and Owen Hanford helped to weather the storm, Oxford going into the break scoreless.

The second period saw a more evenly contested affair, Oxford finally getting on the scoreboard before Grant collected a floated pass out wide to cross the whitewash. Two more Oxford scores in relatively quick succession then brought the score back to 20-12, the game arguably now within their sights. Grant however doubled his tally after a burrowing run Hanford, before a late Oxford consolation brought the score to 26-16.