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Three points denied Cambridge University ladies victory in their 145th Athletics Varsity Match at Wilberforce Road on a day of disappointment for the Light Blues.

Cambridge had set out on a mission to avoid a third 4-0 defeat to Oxford in a row, and it was the women’s Blues match where they went closest to arresting the run of losses.

With five points for first place in each discipline, and three for second, two for third and one for fourth, the Light Blues collected eight points in the 100m, 200m and the 2,000m steeplechase.

Moriyo Aiyeola was first in the 100m in 12.21sec and the 200m in 25.47.

Flo Cochrane was second in the 100m in 12.48 and Catriona Marriott was second in the 200m in 25.92.

Nancy Scott was first in the 2,000m steeplechase in 7min 0.70sec and Fiona Bunn was second in 7.08.61. But Oxford won with 102 points to Cambridge’s 99.

“The difference between winning and losing can be down to the difference between one athlete coming first and second,” said CUAC president Bridget Fryer.

“I think we’d have won the women’s Blues, if it hadn’t been for a key injury on the day or some of the illnesses people had in the run up, but there you go.

“I’m sure Oxford had their fair share of misfortune as well. I remember people telling me a year ago that we’d have no hope in any of the matches having lost a lot of our top athletes last year, so it was an incredible effort by the women’s team to drag ourselves back into contention.

“I think our teams put on a brilliant fight and showed excellent sportsmanship throughout. We had an endless number of personal bests and plenty of individual winners, so there was still lots to celebrate.”

Fryer had personal success, winning the discus after finishing second two years in a row. And also throwing over 40m for the first time.

But she added: “I think the club has come along way this year, but we still need to reflect and figure what else needs to be done to turn Oxford’s streak around.”

In the men’s Blues match, Oxford took glory with 113 points to Cambridge’s 88.

Their only first and second finish was in the 5,000m, with Oliver Fox winning in 14.11.86 and Phillip Crout second in 14.18.83.

The men’s seconds’ match was won by Oxford’s Centipedes with 110 points, as Cambridge’s Alverstones scored 91.

Top-two finishes were taken by Oliver Brown (13.25m) and Tom Carey (12.99) in the long jump, and Elliott Baines (16.80sec) and Lawrence Hopkins (18.59) in the 110m hurdles.

Cambridge’s ladies’ second team, the Alligators, scored 89 points, but were beaten by Oxford’s Millipedes’ 110.