The ones to watch - Rugby
See also: The ones to watch - Football
Teddy Hall
St Edmund Hall at last returned to the top of the college rugby tree last term with a last gasp title triumph, the fi rst in two barren years. Historically, Teddy Hall are Oxford’s most successful rugby side, a fact that was dramatically recalled when they triumphed over St Peter’s in last year’s Cuppers fi nal. However, it was the league title that they truly desired, and now they have their hands on it they seem unlikely to let it go.
The side have already maintained an unbeaten start to the new season, despite the stronger opposition that St Hugh’s and LMH/Trinity have brought to the division with their promotions. Winning a second title this Hilary will without doubt be in the back of the minds of Hall, but it will be a second consecutive Cupper’s crown - and third fi nal - that should be their central focus. In their form, you wouldn’t bet against it.
Star Player
Champions should never rely on a single player. That said, Teddy Hall’s star fly-half Rob Yates has dictated play in every game throughout the season and is the division’s most dangerous hitman. Time and time again he has proved a matchwinner.
St. Peter's
It would be grossly unfair on St Peter’s to describe them as the fallen giants of college rugby. Yet their dramatic last gasp defeat against St Edmund Hall in December left them empty handed for the fi rst time in most undergraduates memory. It also left their record breaking 18-match unbeaten league run in tatters. Although a great shame, this does give some indication of the unbelievable domination the college have enjoyed in Oxford’s First Division.
Peter’s have a lot of work to do to set things right, particularly after an extraordinary performance from top fl ight debutants LMH/Trinity earned the underdogs an early season win against the champions of 2004/5. Nonetheless, Peter’s have all the attributes of a great team and will without doubt recover to emerge as serious contenders to recover their title.
Outside of league aspirations, the college will also be out for revenge against the boys from Teddy Hall after the fi nal minute Freddy Lait try that cost Peter’s the Cuppers title in last year’s epic encounter.
Star Player
Peter’s undoubtably have some exellent players, and in standoff Rob Unwin have a veritable box of tricks and the most reliable kicking boot in Oxford. Yet it was a fresher who emerged as the surprise sensation of last term.
Flanker Bertie Payne was college rugby’s best player in his debut season, a powerful runner and great tackler. He scored the winning try that ended St Catz’s title campaign and has claimed all the plaudits since then. Frankly, it is a shame that he didn’t win any silverware to cap off an incredible term.
Keble
Admittedly, Keble don’t play their rugby in the top flight, and indeed have only just earned promotion to Division Two. However, a brief outline of their year to date will make it patently obvious how they have caught the eye of Oxford’s rugby fans.
They won all fi ve of their games in Division Three, and while on the surface this may not seem the most important achievement, it is worth bearing in mind that in Worcester and Pembroke they had two of the fi nest rivals to ever have graced that lowly league. The fact that neither could come close to touching Keble says something, but not nearly as much as the result when the college met Exeter, freshly down from the First Division, in their fi rst match of the season..
The score? An incredible 96-0 to Keble, and their potential as a top fl ight force announced in the most dramatic of fashions. Based on that evidence, a second consecutive promotion definitely looks on the cards. Even more importantly a decent run in Cuppers almost seems a certainty. Exeter are by no means a poor side, so if they were so easily over-run then even the top teams in Oxford should keep one eye fi rmly behind them.
Star Player
Keble are an outstanding team, and their success is in no small part down to their general strength in every position. No one player particularly stands out, though the personal points haul of Rich Massey is certainly impressive. Similarly, the leadership qualities and vision of captain Jack Wills in open play has certainly helped the side to dominate their opponents and become Oxford’s most attractive up and coming team.
19th Jan 2006