Varsity victory for Medics

Imperial lose out in hard-fought annual grudge match

The annual showdown between the best two rugby teams Imperial has to offer kicked off in Richmond amidst a roar of anticipation. Whilst the medics' team were firm favourites the ICU boys fancied their chances with several key players having recovered from injuries since their previous clash earlier this year. The early exchanges were typified by IC repeatedly turning the ball over, only for the Medic forwards to steal every set-piece ball back again.

While the game ebbed and flowed, the Medic forwards began to assert their superiority, eventually opening the scoring with a series of rolling mauls driving from half way to pile over the IC line after twenty minutes. Dan Neville coolly converted to make the score 7-0. Pressure from the IC backs came to naught as the Medics continued to dominate the line-out allowing the Medic forwards to move inexorably into IC territory for Nick Thomas to score in the corner with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Although the IC forwards were taking a pounding, the backs were showing some great skill, moving the ball all over the park as well as putting up a terrific defence. This effort was rewarded just before half time as the Medic handling cracked under the pressure; James Fletcher converting scrum-half Rob Robinson's try after picking up the pieces following a loose pass.

The second half began with sustained pressure from the IC backs, the ball travelling first one way then the other along the line, before the defence failed to deal with an incisive grubber; James Fletcher recovering his own kick to level the scores. It didn't take long for the Medics to get back into it, using their pack to good effect, grinding down any chance of an IC victory.

First taking an easy three points from in front of the posts, then simply applying yet more set piece pressure, the Medics made certain that there was no way back for IC. A ping-pong contest inside the IC twenty-two ensued, eventually ended as the Medics' Cameron Sullivan broke the line for an easy try after IC failed to clear on the eighth attempt. Dan Neville completed the scoring with his conversion. It was then all over bar the shouting (of which there was a great deal!).

As JPR Williams commented when presenting the man-of-thematch award to the Medics' No. 5, Peter O'Neil, it was a game that was won in the forwards and although IC struggled valiantly, their backs never had the platform they needed.

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