Five in a row for Cambridge

If this soggy victory never soared to world-beating heights at Twickenham yesterday, it deservedly kept the Bowring Bowl in Light Blue hands for the fifth successive year, equalling Cambridge's own record set between 1972-76 and 1980-84.

In the end a fine individual try from Mark Denney and a more fortuitous one from the hooker Stefan Rodgers were just enough to see off a late Oxford rally.

There were lingering suspicions that Rodgers' scoring wriggle over the line early in the second half required some assistance from the referee Ed Morrison.

Morrison otherwise had his usual seamless game but failed to spot the large Dark Blue hand wedged under the ball as Rodgers attempted to hold off the tackle of Nathan Ashley. It seemed unlikely to matter much as Cambridge entered the final 10 minutes 16-5 up, until Oxford's left-wing Nick Humphries, one of many Australians on view, cut through and scored rousingly at the posts. A frantic finale followed.

After a scrappy start, a contest broke out. A horrible defensive howler saw Mark Robinson spill Nick Booth's hopeful punt ahead to allow the wing to slide gratefully over before Denney took charge.

Scorching around the back of a scrum in the Oxford 22, he took the ball at pace, stepped expertly outside the cover and completed a curving run into the left corner.

Oxford's captain David Kelaher spent half an hour off the field having 15 stitches inserted above his right eye during which time Cambridge's out-half Paul Moran put further clear water between the sides with two penalties. A 64,000 crowd looked on, still a remarkable figure for a murky, wet midweek afternoon. All those wearing Light Blue scarves will definitely be back next year.

Scorers: Cambridge: Tries: Denney, Rodgers; penalties: Moran 2; Oxford: Tries: Booth, Humphries; conversion: Booth.

Oxford: R Woodfine; M Booth, N Ashley, K Shuman, N Humphries; R Governey, S Barry; A Collins, P O'Connor, A Reuben, A Roberts, M Challender, N Celliers, D Kelaher (capt), T Miuichi.

Cambridge: R Morrow; A Bidwell, M Robinson, M Denney, S Lippiett; P Moran, G Peacocke; M Foulds (capt), S Rodgers, C Hart, A Innes, H Innes, O Slack, M Haslett, H Whitford.

Referee: E Morrison (Bristol).

The banning of the muscle-building drug creatine for next year's Five Nations championship and World Cup is set to be advocated by French rugby union president Bernard Lapasset. He will take advantage of the visit to Paris of International Board president Vernon Pugh and European Rugby Council president Tom Kiernan to air his views on Saturday.