The London Varsity: UCL vs KCL Live!

FULL TIME: UCL vs. KCL:  16-9

21:33 It’s time for baths for the players, and a pint of bitter and a chicken-balti pie for us here at The Tab. Good night! UCL!!!!

21:30 It’s been a night of drama and joy for our men and women. With two wins, we couldn’t ask for much more as a uni. King’s, as previously known, are inferior. Reggie the Lion weeps a tear of sadness as UCL’s fans celebrate into what shall be a great night. We look forward to reading Pi’s account of this match in 2 weeks time.

21:29: Dumbledoris picks up the trophy for the outright UCL Varsity win. She must feel bewitched after today!

21:27 The Tab’s highly acclaimed Man of the Match award goes to club captain Fergus Edward Taylor. He led by example and his tireless efforts of getting to every single breakdown and making lots of yardage with the ball in hand makes us big fans of the Fergie. Top effort boy!

21:25 Unbelievable scenes here as UCL celebrate to the tune of Hall of Fame by The Script. Queen’s We are the Champions would surely be more appropriate here.

21:24 Full time 16-9 And a 8-5 victory for UCL in the Varsity series. Shut up, King’s, London is ours!

21:24 And…… It is all over! UCL have won the Varsity AGAIN!

21:23 King’s have a lineout on the UCL 22 meter line. They really need to make something out of this.

21:22 Due to lots of stoppages throughout the second half, I must stress that it is not yet over. One of the most tense games we have ever reported on in our time.

21:21: Our DumbleDoris on the touch line, looks like she’s gearing herself up for celebrations. It’s been a magic day, but not long to go now, Doris!

21:20 The stadium officials taking down the Varsity posters already,. They think it’s all over!

21:18 King’s have the ball in their own half as they try to salvage something from this game. Both sets of forwards are tiring and UC just need to hold on now.

21:15 One of the King’s players down injured as a due break in play lets us all catch our breath. Anyone for a cuppa?

21:14 16-9 And it’s good from the UCL inside center! The fat lady is preparing her hymn sheet.

21:13 Penalty advantage to UCL but after a well executed backs move, the ball goes into touch so they come back for the penalty kick.

21:10 UCL fans jubilant after that top effort, as we head towards a third straight Varsity victory for our men. WE ALL FOLLOW UCL!

21:09 13-9 Converted Try for UCL!!!!!!!!!! At a crucial time, our man in the red scrum cap, Fergus Taylor, has scored! Following a bout of UCL pressure, we eventually force it over through great hands and offloading skills, and the conversion is good, of course!

21:08 Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us” playing on the soundsystem as our captain makes a cutting run, and we pile on the pressure again.

21:07 Nothing much happening here at the Allianz. Cutting edge reporting from your men on the touchline.

21:06 We’re veering into squeaky bum time here, with our boys still 3 points down.

21:05 Tackles flying in here as a UCL full back is tackled in mid-air, but the referee waves play on. Jeers and calls for a visit to Specsavers from the UCL fans.

21:04 Should have been a try there for UCL but came away with nil. Zilch. Zero. Nothing. Line out to KCL.

21:02 UCL fans desperate for the blood of Reggie the Lion, but our men are some way off that at the moment. The only bite they’ll be performing is that of a snake(bite) tonight unless we can salvage this!

21:00 Chance! The heavier UCL forwards get the drive on and come up 1 meter short from the line. The ball is shipped wide but eventually goes out into touch. Keep going lads.

20:59 UCL get a penalty 5 meters out under the posts but opt for the scrum. Could they live to regret the decision not to kick to level the match?

20:58 Packed out stands here now as we gear up for a big finish, as UCL’s backs pile on pressure. The fans are going wild!

20:57 King’s kick, and Dan Mizen receives. Can the Miz save the day?

20:56 A UCL scrum on the KCL 22 meter line. A big heave from the UCL forwards, but they turn it over immediately.

20:53 KCL enjoying a nice spell of pressure here, with UCL not seeing much ball. Every time they get it, they are making needless mistakes giving away too many penalties. The UCL fans are quiet at present, we need a try and a rousing rendition of ‘Burlington Burtie’ from the purple half of the crowd.

20:53 And they’ve just made a sub. The flanker. The number 7 or something, Do you really care about that either though?

20:52 “We are KCL” ringing out from the red stand. But literally no one cares.

20:50 KCL had a very promising period of possession there, but then knocked it on to the UC 22. Let off.

20:48 Our man on the touchline James Deri was speaking to the referee’s assessor at half time, who said they were happy with the performance of the officials in the first half. Top draw officiating!

20:46 UCL steal it at the breakdown, but Kings steal again. It’s like Woolworths in Lewisham down here.

20:44 King’s convert to make it 9-6 from under the sticks. Still plenty of time for our boys here. Premature celebrations ring out from those weirdos in Red from the Strand Polytechnic.

20:43 King’s looking dangerous. Kicking and driving like a wild beast on the 5 meter line. And they win the penalty!

20:41 King’s lineout on the 22. A dummy scissor screen move straight out of the textbook. He nearly gets a score in the corner, but his foot was in touch, says the assistant on the near side.

20:38 Second Half The players are coming back out now to a great roar from both sets of fans. Come on boys!

20:37 So what odds of UC doing the double tonight and sealing Varsity with a 8-5 win? That would be lovely.

20:33 Tom’s turned up with a smile on his face (not) and a few unsavoury remarks regarding London transport and the stadium officials.

20:32 Having finished a relatively short (but totes amazing) cheer, our gals head back inside. Well done girls, you’ve earned your stripes tonight. It must’ve been those Weetabix this morning.

20:30 We’re having to make room in the commentary box for all 6″8 of our Deputy Editor Tom Houghton to turn up. He’s been stuck on the Northern Line for over an hour and is looking forward to watching our boys stroll to victory in the second half.

20.28 – Half Time. All square at  the Varsity! “Here come the girls” blares out from the speakers. We’re not sure whether it’s referring to the KCL Men’s team or the cheerleaders.

20.25 – Penalty to the men in purple! Attempted kick for goal is by Andrew Smith Doctor! It just about has enough purchase on it to loop over the bar. Even Stevens!

20.23 – All that pressure, and UCL come away without a single point. Yet another penalty gives away possession to Kings.

20.21 – The Kings fans are very vocal, their out-of-tune rendition of que sera sera (KCL CL) doesn’t seem to be affecting the UCL players.

20.19 – UC kick into touch and have a 5m lineout. The forwards drive it over but the ref signals for a scrum, the ball was held up.

20.18 – Dan Mizen with a jinking run on this near side, UC have a penalty advantage!

20.15 – Penalty good from Kings, they take the lead.

20.13 – The cheerleaders are coming out to warm up, compared to the ugly Kings forwards they look like Angels from Bloomsbury!

20.10 – Kick no good and the score stays level.

20.08 – The UCL captain Tom Brockett has been called over to the ref along with two other players. KCL have a kickable penalty from about 37m.

20.04 – Cracking run by Winger Zach Stamp, pumping his legs and handing off 3 Kings players. The attack is wasted and KCL clear their lines from a penalty.  The UC coach must be livid with number of penalties given away so far.

20.00 – Another penalty miss by UCL no.12, it just didn’t have the legs. UC have the ball and are building some phases in the KCL half.

19.55 – UCL give away another couple of penalties, this one for rucking off their feet. They are trying to settle into the game but discipline needs to improve. KCL have possession just inside the UC 22.

19.54 – Penalty to UCL, and this time the kick is good! We’re all square at the Allianz Park, it’s 3-3

19.52 – Penalty to KCL under the sticks. The kick is good and it’s 3-0, Kings taking an early lead.

19.49 – KCL have the ball in a promising position, running through some backs moves. Their left winger has had some good runs but has thus-far been met with decent defence.

19.46 – Immediately a penalty to UC just outside the 22. Attempted kick for goal missed by Andrew Smith-Doctor.

19.45 – Kick off! UC kick to Kings. The atmosphere is building here as more fans arrive. Come on the UC!

7.39 – 5 mins to kick off. Freddie McNicholas has now left our Tab box, and 6ft8 roving reporter Tom Houghton is still making his way to the ground on various buses… Of all days damn northern line!

7.18 – Kick off has been delayed until 19:45 for the men’s game here at Allianz Park. A few more fans are trickling in but we are hearing that many are still en route through North London due to “an earlier signal failure at Hampstead and an earlier faulty train on the northern line” (according to TFL).

Quote from Vicky Chan, in tears of joy: “I’m overwhelmed by this win. We’ve been building up to this all season and everyone is so happy to achieve the result we knew we could get.” Try scorers for UCL were Charlotte McClean and Amy Kirk-Smith. The Tab man of the match award goes to Charlotte McClean for her try, her workrate around the park and her dominance in the lineout that meant UCL didn’t lose a single throw. Well done Charlotte!

Fulltime–  UCL 10- Kings 7. The womens team go over to say thank you to the fans. Quick update, we’re hearing that the northern line is currently suspended, probably being the main reason as to why the vast majority of fans aren’t here yet. Therefore if you are travelling for the game, make sure to check your route is working.

6:35- And that’s full time, UCL hang on for the win. Despite conceding the try late on, they thoroughly dominated Kings in both possession and territory, but did struggle to convert it into points. Despite that, a good win for the team and with it UCL HAS WON VARSITY!!! Now here’s hoping the men’s team have the same success.

6:32- Stolen lineout by UCL, but they concede a penalty and Kings kick downfield. Tense stuff with not much longer to be played.

6:28- TRY! First real attack we’ve seen from Kings in a while, penalty to them inside UC’s 22. Kings prop takes it on a rampaging run. Wins another penalty, shifted to the outside and a Kings centre takes it over for a try. Converted by Kings from in front of the posts, 10-7.

6:24- UCL recover the ball and are yet again camped inside the Kings 22. AND THAT’S ANOTHER UCL TRY!!!! One of the UCL forwards managed to nip their way over the line. Try yet again not converted by UCL fullback Hannah Ohlson. 10-0 to UCL.

6:20- Another penalty to UCL 10m away from Kings line. Tap and go, with UCL trying to get some quick ruck ball through the forwards in order to be able to spin it wide to the Wings. Camped a couple of metres short of the line. Ref brings it back for a free kick. Another tap and go with Trezise taking it hard into contact. Vicky Chan was screaming for the ball but forwards took it into contact, and eventually concede the penalty! Cleared by Kings.

6:17- Half chance for UC as the ball was bobbling around just outside the Kings 5m line. Kings recover, but give away yet another scrum to UCL. Another substitution, UC scrum half Yuna Murayama goes off to be replaced by Grace Root (we found a teamsheet!)

6:15, in other news, UCL in possession inside the King’s half. Tempo has slowed down a bit after the UCL try. Still steadily advancing towards the Kings line.

6:13- Injury. UCL player is subbed off and is being treated to by paramedics on the sideline.

6:09- Fresh blood in the engine room as Rachael Blacklaws comes on at lock for UCL. There is also a UCL player injured on the pitch at the moment, can’t quite see who it is from the press box. Break in play as they’re being treated.

6:05- Trezise and fly half/captain Vicky Chan get a stern talking to from the ref. Despite the chants of King’s fans, no cards were shown. Score at 5-0, King’s bring on 2 subs just before a scrum in the middle of the park.

6:02- Apol0gies for the lack of players names, but due to this being student journalism we haven’t been able to get hold of a program.

5:59- TRY TIME!!! After another 5 metre scrum, ball is shipped out wide and UCL’s number 11 runs across for the score. Not converted, UC leading 5-0.

5:56- 5 metre scrum to UCL, fans getting into it now. Ball held up just short of the line and another scrum to UCL. Must be frustrating for them.

5:54- And we’re off again. Immediately after the kick, number 8 Trezise makes a huge hit followed by another powerful run. UCL camped in Kings’ 22 again.

Halftime: 0-0 Quite a nervous start for both teams. More handling errors than I think either team would have liked to see, and I’m getting the impression that maybe the full size pitch is something that the players aren’t quite used to. Pick of the players in the first half was probably UCL No.8 Eleanor Trezise, who made a number of powerful runs that opened up the Kings defence and led to UCL’s best chances. Three or four times UCL players were brought down just short of the line, and only some courageous defending by Kings kept them from scoring. Second half is about to begin, here’s hoping we get some points on the board.

5:43- The numbers of supporters at the moment relatively level for both sides, but I’m afraid to say that UCL is being outsung by Kings at the moment. Moments after typing a rendition of Berlington Bertie is struck up, and with a penalty kick into touch that’s the half. Score still 0-0.

5:40- Scrum to Kings on UCL’s 22, but after a couple of passages of play penalty to UC. Cleared away again. UCL not dominating in the way that the history between the two sides might have suggested.

5:38- Ball turned over and kicked away by UC.

5:36- Still 0-0. Ball has been largely stuck around the halfway line. King’s starting to make some progress, and penalty to Kings! Choose to tap and go, both teams not fancying their chances with kicking for goal it seems.

5:33- Mistake from UCL no.15 by dropping a kick inside her own half. Thankfully manages to recover to clear it away.

5:31- Another 5 metre scrum to the UCL ladies. Turned over in open play.

5:28- UCL came very close to scoring on 3 or 4 occasions, but some good defence from King’s has kept them at bay.

5:22- Chance for UC, right on Kings’ 5 metre line! Taking their time with it. And ball gets stuck in a ruck, scrum to UCL on the 5 metres.

5:16- Cagey start so far, score still at 0-0. UCL have had most of the possession but mistakes letting them down slightly. Territory has been fairly even.

5:09- Penalty to King’s allows them to clear their lines to just outside the 22 line.

5:08- Penalty to UC, take the tap and run option.

5:07- Scrum to UC inside Kings 22, danger here.

5:06- UC still in possession, good break by number 8.

5:03- Lineout to UCL on halfway line.

5:02- And we’re underway in the women’s match!

 

Is that the heady scent of silver polish in the air? The rustling of programmes in North West London being checked over for the latest team gossip and last minute changes? There’s a party happening at Allianz Park and The Tab is here to bring you live text coverage of yet another UCL victory in the London Varsity.