League Blues win then lose

Blues beat Bath but fail to score against UWE in mixed West Country tour

Blues Bucs oxford tab Rugby League the tab oxford tom cole university of bath university of oxford university of west england

The Blues started their rugby league season with a tough fortnight in the West Country, winning and losing against Bath and the University of West England respectively.

With only a handful of returning Blues for the 2012-13 campaign, the opening games of the season were an opportunity to blood new recruits and players who emerged from the successful Maroons’ team of the previous season.

Oxford travelled up to Bath unsure of what this new side would offer in terms of competition. But while Bath were a competitive side, they were no match for Oxford. Despite initial rustiness and a knock on soon after the kick off, Oxford were able to capture the initiative and Jake Whittaker, one of several débutantes  was able to score off a grubber kick.

Fearon’s Boys prepare for UWE

This was soon followed by Ed Stone playing the role of Moses, parting through the sea of Bath defenders, and running under the post to score Oxford’s second try. Undeterred by a brief Bath fight back the third Blues player of début, Jack Barber, was able to score in the corner.

The second half was tougher work for the Oxford 13, as early season fitness started to show, and Bath were able to pull back another try. Bath kept up the mounting pressure but were rudely interrupted by Jack McKenna, who demonstrated the light fingers of a child of Fagin, to intercept the ball and pull Oxford further ahead.

The game was promptly rounded off by Captain, Hugo Fearon, whose summer of aggressive gym work led him to charge through the Bath side’s tackles and force his way over. A deft up-and-under by Whittaker, spotting the lack of fullback, allowed Tom Cole to outpace backtracking Bath defenders and score his first try in a Blue shirt. Oxford were also aided by strong performances by James Smith and Billy Saundry, who unfortunately injured himself brutally tackling a Bath player.

The trip to UWE was a thoroughly different game

The trip to UWE was a thoroughly different game with ominous signs from the start. Losing Liam Whittaker to ‘stomach problems’ did not help, nor did the late change of location.

Oxford in the poor conditions were unable to get a solid attacking platform going and spent the majority of the first half valiantly defending set after set, limiting the damage to 6–0. Losing Matt Slomka to a broken leg and few replacements available meant the score ended 22–0.

Despite the initial setback Oxford were able to take away the knowledge that their tackling was well on its way to being at an appropriate level for Varsity. There was genuine ferocity at the ruck with Tom Cole making three tackles at marker, and Luke Jagoe showed sheer unadulterated rage screeching like a banshee before levelling a UWE prop.