Cambridge University Lacrosse Club

Cambridge Blues 14 – 3 Oxford Blues

After a long holiday break, normal service was resumed by Cambridge against their oldest adversary. It has been a stunning season for the Women’s Blues, undefeated and runaway leaders of their league. However, no game is won without focus and hard work, and Cambridge are well aware they cannot afford any complacency. Having beaten Oxford once already before this match, Cambridge will face them twice more this season, once in the Varsity match and then a few days later in the BUSA semi-final.

The game started fairly slowly, very unlike the early dominance the Blues exerted over Oxford in the away match last term. The break showed in the rusty early play, Cambridge taking time to ease back into form. It should be noted that the scoreline perhaps reflects the lack of quality in the Oxford side, more than any dominance in Cambridge’s play. The Dark Blues created chances but converted few, capitalising on some lax communication and racing through the midfield for some fast break opportunities.

That said, a sign of a good team is the ability to win convincingly even when they do not play at their best, and Cambridge certainly took control of the match. It was a great opportunity to try out some set plays, and it was satisfying to see some of them begin to come together, especially a lovely goal by Ellie Walshe after strong set-up play by the attacks. Unrehearsed, open attacking play has been a strong point for Cambridge throughout this season, as the Blues are blessed with a number of intelligent and skilled players in the attack. Adele Fauvet was central as always in creating opportunities, and some fierce finishing from Kate Morland and Ros Lloyd pushed the game out of Oxford’s reach.

Emily Knight and Jackie Vullinghs provided essential support play, showing how well newer members of the squad have settled in. Indeed, it is the strength in depth in this squad that has made the Cambridge Blues such a force to be reckoned with this season, each member contributing greatly to the team effort. This became clear in preventing Oxford adding to their goal tally. After two early, rather sloppily conceded goals, Cambridge tightened up all over the pitch. The sterling work of the straight defence mopped up the flood of Dark Blue players heading down the pitch, and hard work tracking back from Georgie Hurt, Lea Michaels and Clare Jeffreys proved Cambridge are adept at recovering from man-down situations.

In all, the game could be classed as ‘satisfactory’, with good work all round but perhaps lacking all of the elegance this squad is capable of bringing to their play. Oxford will be working doubly hard to put up a stiff challenge in Varsity, one match where there are no guarantees, but Cambridge have shown they have quality, drive and determination in abundance. Bring on March 1st!

Lea Michaels