Cambridge University pay the penalty in defeat to Durham University

Two penalties in the last 10 minutes sent Cambridge University to a 16-12 defeat to Durham University at Grange Road.

It was the third of four matches this Michaelmas Term for the Light Blues, with the Varsity Match now switched to April, and so it is still very early days with regards to the evolution of the side.

This was a factor that was evident in patches of the game against Durham, but in the long term will act as a vital learning curve.

It was a strange game in some regards as it felt like there was plenty of space to be exploited for both sides, and yet neither of them could really get the ball into the positions often enough to add to make it tell.

In terms of execution, it was not quite the most clean or crisp of performances from either team, and that was probably why though it did not have the feel of a match that got bogged down in the tight, nor was it one where free-flowing backs moves were in abundance.

Defences were most definitely on top, with some big hits throughout and, without a demonstration of that extra bit of patience in possession, they seldom looked like being breached.

Durham got the first try of the game after six minutes, with Morgan James making a good break to put Jack Benton away to touch down.

But what followed was a controlled 25-minute spell for the hosts.

It was an instant reply on the scoreboard as they worked their way along the line, recycling play and going through the phases for Stephen Leonard to get the try, and Alex King converted.

More of the same was in order minutes later, but as the ball went wide to winger Tim Andrew, a superb cover tackle saw him forced into touch before being able to ground the ball.

In the 20th minute, the Light Blues did take the lead.

Pressure inside the Durham 22 led to Max Loveridge delivering a perfectly-weighted pass to Andrew to this time get the try, and it remained 12-5 at half time.

The second half was a much more scrappy affair, with a bit of a harem-scarem approach creating a bit of an unstructured feel.

Great work from Durham full-back Nick Jonas saw him glide through the midfield by evading a couple of tackles through pivots off either foot and then kick to the corner. It bounced over the try-line and Charlie Coe won the foot race to dive on the ball for the try.

A penalty against Cambridge at the scrum gave Harry Mercer the chance to kick Durham ahead in the 70th minute, and he duly obliged to make it 13-12.

The same player was then presented with another opportunity from a similar scenario 10 minutes later, and converted again to make it 16-12.

There was still time for Cambridge to put the pressure on inside the Durham 22 in the closing stages, but they were just a bit too hasty in trying to move the ball to be able to make the visitors pay.

While it was a first defeat of the academic year, following wins over the Pringle Farm Pillagers and Exeter Chiefs under-23s, there was certainly promise that can be built upon by the Light Blues.

Cambridge University: King; Russell, Chibale, Odu, Andrew; Loveridge, Favell; Collins, Wright, Pettit, Friend, Bischoff, Walton, Leonard, Smeaton.

Replacements: Parry, James, Harris, West, Obembe, Holdroyd, McIntosh, Grier.

Durham University: Jonas; Brown, Nicholson, Ford, Coe; Bishop, Morgan; Dormer, Chinyemba, Carr, Belcher, Benton, Barratt, Wills, Tomalin.

Replacements: Shaw, Royston, Spurway, Cope, Mercer, Earnshaw.

Scorers: 6min Benton try (0-5), 8 Leonard try - King con (7-5), 20 Andrew try (12-5), 68 Coe try (12-10), 70 Mercer pen (12-13), 80+1 Mercer pen (12-16).

Sin bin: Cambridge University - West (62min).