Cambridge University RUFC set for Steele-Bodger XV test

James Shanahan is encouraged by the foundations being put in place by Cambridge University RUFC this Michaelmas Term.

Their academic calendar has a new look with the Varsity Match being moved from its traditional pre-Christmas slot at Twickenham to April 2 in 2022.

It means a long build-up to facing Oxford, and the Light Blues have had three matches to date, with the ‘Cambridge Christmas party’ next Wednesday (November 24) with the annual match against the Steele-Bodger XV side (3pm).

Of the games they have played so far, they have beaten the Pringle Farm Pillagers select side and Exeter Chiefs under-23s, but were defeated 16-12 by Durham University last Wednesday.

“It’s been pretty good, to be fair,” said head coach Shanahan.

“We’ve had two good performances and Durham was a little bit disappointing. We’ve blooded a lot of new boys, there are quite a lot of youngsters coming through. I’m pretty happy.

“This term is a bit of a strange one as it’s a bit of a development one, and then we’re building for Varsity in the next term.

“It’s good to see some of the young guys that have stepped up from the LXs getting their first Blues games. Hopefully we can put in a good performance in the Bodgers game.

“Then term is finished and we come back in January to focus on the Varsity Match.

“They are training really hard and doing more work on our S&C than we probably would in a normal term just because it is a long season.

“Building towards April instead of December, it’s been quite nice and refreshing. The pressure is off, so to speak, and I think the boys have quite enjoyed that. Maybe the more time we have to build will give us a better chance in April, but I’m sure it’s the same for Oxford and they are coming off the back of a good win against us.”

Having fallen behind early on against Durham, they responded through tries from Stephen Leonard and Tim Andrew to lead for a long period, but two late penalties ended up making the difference.

They still had a chance in the closing stages to get another score, but a lack of patience proved costly. However, that learning process will be a benefit in the long term.

“It’s the first time we’ve been behind this term,” said Shanahan.

“We’ve been in front most of the time, and teams have been chasing us. That’s been pretty good for us because we’ve defended well, our kick chase has been really strong and we’ve had a lot of opportunities to attack.

“They [the players] are really disappointed and annoyed, but as long as we learn from it and can build on it to put in a performance against the Bodgers to keep learning in January, February and March into April, then a defeat like that is worthwhile.”

He added: “We usually have a nine-game season up to Varsity, but now we’re going to have 16 or 17 games before Varsity so that is quite a lot.

“Now it’s spread out, I’m hoping that they are well prepped with all their work and making sure that they know next term there is going to be a big rugby focus, and if they’ve got to catch up on work they are doing it this term not next term basically.”