Wednesday 21st November,Home

Cambridge 30 - 10 Steele-Bodger Invitational XV

“The outside world is oblivious: the public prints will carry not even a one-liner fixture note today; certainly no match report tomorrow.” The words of distinguished journalist Frank Keating, in an article for the Guardian in 2010 lamenting the dwindling interest in the traditional contest between Oxford University and Major Charles Stanley’s Invitational XV. This description couldn’t have been further from reality at Grange Road on Wednesday afternoon, as foul weather did nothing to deter hordes of spectators from descending on a University Rugby ground adorned with press-pass wielding journalists and cameramen alike. The queues for the beer tent obscured the additional seating; there was even a brass band. 

In a week when Buckingham Palace celebrated sixty-five years of marriage between the Queen and Prince Phillip, Cambridge University RUFC was commemorating a ‘Light’ Blue Sapphire anniversary of its own, as rugby royalty Micky Steele-Bodger’s Invitational XV challenged the Blues for the 65th time. The annual fixture, which followed on from Major Stanley’s initiative in Oxford, has brought exciting players to Cambridge over the years. This year proved no exception as 7’s internationals Hamish Smales, Will Brock and Mark Lee joined a renowned list of past participants, such as Andy Ripley and Denis Charvet, who have turned out for the Steele-Bodger XV.

Speaking at halftime, Mr Steele-Bodger, freshly garlanded with a scarf to honour the occasion, highlighted the importance of such high-class opposition in preparing the Blues squad for the all-important Varsity Match: “There used to be a dinner where they’d talk to their opposite number and give them the benefit of their great experience – this was probably of much more use to them than anything else – mind you, with the weather as it is, the chance of any of the highest quality of rugby is almost impossible!”

The slippery conditions and high winds did undoubtedly hamper the Blues in their preparations for Twickenham; with territory increasingly important, they had to rely more on the strength of the dominant pack, as opposed to the brand of free-flowing, running rugby that the Grange Road faithful have witnessed this season. However second-half tries from Dugal Bain, Seb Tullie and Will Smith added to captain Rob Malaney’s first half score as Cambridge combined improved discipline with superior fitness to run out comfortable 30-10 winners.

With the final dress rehearsal for the Varsity Match against Bristol University on Saturday, the in-form Blues are in a good position to overturn two years of heartbreak when they take to the field on December 6th. The final encouraging words from double-blue Micky for the Twickenham debutants? “The first 10 minutes of the Varsity match is one of the most terrifying experiences you can get – huge crowd, everybody running everywhere, as fast as they can in all directions doing no good at all!”

The Varsity Match is broadcast live on SkySports and can be followed on Twitter: @Official_CURUFC