"Drown the Tabs"
In the first of Saturday evening's Varsity water polo matches, Cambridge's quick play proved to be too much for the home team in a match whose score did not represent the hard fight that took place.
A lively first quarter brought both teams chances and points as well as some of the best action in the match. A great save by Oxford's keeper Paula Croxson stopped the early Tab advance and a narrow miss on the cross bar prevented the Dark Blues from taking the first points. Minutes later a fringe break followed by a cross to the Cambridge attacking team member secured the first scoring goal shot. Countering with strong centre ground play and by pushing up through the middle, Oxford allowed Charlie Brunskill the first of her two goals. Efficient marking from both sides left the rest of the quarter with only one more goal apiece, both from minor fumbles in defence.
After the first break no one could have predicted the sudden Cambridge onslaught. Six goals in seven minutes left Oxford with heads down. Where opportunities arose goals were taken and Cambridge's quicker play down the fringes began to take its toll over Oxford's reliable but slow ball through the middle ground.
Half-time passed leaving Oxford a goal mountain which they were unable to climb. Mention must be given to Becky Farrands for great work in consistently keeping a hostile attacker at bay but Oxford, now lacking the mind to win, could not seem to regain their starting strength. Even with shouts from the ever enthusiastic crowd of "drown the Tabs" and "Oxford's much fitter anyway" the gap continued to widen, ending in a 13-2 victory to Cambridge.
A lack of positive thinking rather than lack of skill ultimately lost the game for Oxford and the score line did not do a well trained team justice on the night.
3rd Apr 2004