Captain Laura Bleehen hails Cambridge University after comeback to draw 35th Women's Varsity Match with Oxford University
Captain Laura Bleehen talked of the great pride in Cambridge University as the 35th Women's Varsity Match ended in a 10-10 draw with Oxford at Twickenham.
Vianney Gomezgil Yaspik's late try clinched a share of the spoils for the Light Blues, who had taken the lead through Hetta Friend's first-half try but were pegged back by scores from Megan Isaac and Sophie Lamont.
It was the first draw between the sides in the Varsity Match, and meant that Cambridge kept the trophy as defending champions.
“I’m just so proud of everyone on that pitch that we came back into that game," said Girton College student Bleehen.
“It just shows how strong our bench was and we always knew that, and we always had so much faith in them.
“They had such an impact coming on the pitch and you saw Sonia making some huge carries, that try to technically win us the game was immense.
“That just came from the belief we all had in the team that we could get that score."
Cambridge posed such a powerful threat in the forwards, but Oxford's defence was immense and they had an expansive attacking game.
“We both had tough seasons in BUCS, there are some really great teams in our league and it just shows how much work we’ve put in to our defence. Credit to them, they had a really strong defence," said Bleehen.
“But I’m just so happy, and there are just so many emotions."
In the British Universities & Colleges Sport League this season, the teams have faced each other twice and won one apiece, so a draw at Twickenham was perhaps no surprise.
“It’s always a tight game, Varsity, and that game just shows it," said Bleehen.
“There were times when momentum definitely swung.
“I’m just so proud we got that score at the end to bring us level."
It was a third and final rugby Blue for Bleehen, who is a final year medic, and she added: “It’s my last game for the uni, and it’s pretty sweet to get the trophy.
“It’s a good one to take away. It’s been immense and Varsity is such an amazing experience but rugby is so much more than just this game.
“The friends that I’ve made at the uni I will take away for life, and that’s what I play rugby for."
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