Varsity match: It proved a mixed afternoon for a quintet of Irishmen as Cambridge University beat Oxford University 31-16 in the Varsity match at Twickenham to claim the MMC Trophy before a crowd of 38,733. David O'Brien, a former Ireland Under 21 international and Belvedere College schoolboy played at openside flanker for the winners, while ex-Royal School Dungannon centre Paul Magee came on as a replacement.
It was a less edifying occasion for former High School student and the Dark Blues outhalf John Fennell who was replaced during the game while, ex-Belvedere College prop Seán Brophy also failed to play a full part.
He became the second player in the history of the fixture - his opposite number Rudy Bosch was the first - to be sin binned.
Referee Wayne Barnes adjudged that the 25-year-old former Leinster Under-19, Under-21 and Ireland Under-21 player was responsible for collapsing a scrum, a tough call.
His fellow prop in the Oxford front row, the one-time Wallace High School pupil Paul Laffin had to accept second best on the scoreboard.
South African forwards Bosch and Nic Alberts led the way for Cambridge with close-range touchdowns, before tries in three second-half minutes from lock Andrew Clements and wing David Akinluyi finished off Oxford.
Fly-half Jon Ufton kicked three conversions, including the extra points following Bosch's second try just before full-time, and Oxford could only manage a late penalty try and 11 points from centre James Whittingham as Cambridge wiped out a four-point interval deficit to record their biggest Varsity win since 1997.
Cambridge banked on experience in their victory quest, fielding three 31-year-olds in Bosch, Ufton and lock John Blaikie, but Oxford were determined not to relinquish their Varsity crown under the captaincy of hooker Andy Dalgleish.
The Light Blues managed to absorb the loss of full-back Ian McInroy who was stretchered off after a sickening clash of heads with Oxford flanker Doug Abbott and Stefan Thomas, the latter leading to Magee's introduction.
Cambridge overcame their four-point interval deficit having managed to weather an early Oxford first-half storm and played the more assertive rugby after the interval to claim victory.
Scores: Cambridge: Tries: Rudy Bosch (2) Nick Alberts Andrew Clements David Akinluyi. Conversions: Jonny Upton (3). Oxford: Try: Penalty try conversion: James Whittingham. Penalties: Whittingham (3).
OXFORD: A Knox; J Boto, A James, J Whittingham, T Tombleson; J Fennell, K Brennan; P Laffin, A Dalgleish (capt), S Brophy; R Graham, A Harris; D Abbott, D Palm, J Jones.
Replacements: D Rosen, R Matthews/M Street, C Hadfield, J Bucknall, P Jenkins, S Fauth, R Lavery.
CAMBRIDGE: I McInroy; C Desmond, J Ansbro, E Carter (capt), D Akinluyi; J Ufton, R Evans; R Bosch, J Clark, E Kalman; J Blaikie, A Clements; N Alberts, D O'Brien, M Harfoot.
Replacements: T Woolsey, T Kirkman, A Gilbert, R Bartholomew, C Worsley, S Thomas, P Magee.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU).
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