Photos from 2009 Varsity Match
Varsity team for 2009
Captain's quote
Click here to view video 
- Richard Lutton, Linacre
- Daniel Rosen, Worcester
- Oliver Tomaszczyk, Brasenose
- Ian Kench, St Cross
- Nik Van Zyl, Green Templeton
- John Carter, Kellogg
- Stanley McKeen, Harris Manchester
- Christopher Davies, St Edmund Hall
- Nick Haydon, University
- Ross Swanson, New
- Timothy Catling, Pembroke
- Julian Allfrey, Green Templeton
- Alex Cheesman, St Edmund Hall
- William Browne, Balliol
- Christopher Mahony, Keble
- David Rogers, St Cross
- William Johnson, Pembroke
- Karl Outen, St Edmund Hall
- Makoto Tosa, Lady Margaret Hall
- Willem Klopper, Green Templeton
- Rhodri James, St Catherine’s
- Sean Morris, Somerville
- Govind Oliver, Green Templeton
Team news - Catling voted Oxford University Sportsman of the Year
After a historic and momentous season, Catling was the favourite for the award. Tim entered the history books with his hat-trick of tries at Twickenham in the Varsity Match. However, the fact that this was the first Varsity hat-trick since 1934 is less impressive than the fact that all three tries came in the first half. The manner in which they were scored made his hat-trick all the more extraordinary, and deservedly made Catling the lead story on the back page of all major newspapers, including the Times, The Independent and the Telegraph. His first has fairly unanimously been agreed as the best individual try ever scored in a Varsity Match. His second probably holds the accolade as the best team try in a Varsity. The Times claimed that it was Catling’s performance that reinvigorated a tired fixture. Never before had so many points been scored in a Varsity Match (62 points). Also, from an Oxford viewpoint, he played a significant role in turning round a succession of 3 defeats for the Blues.
Whilst Tim’s mesmeric Varsity Match performance is plain for all to see, it was a surprise to no-one who had been watching him all season. Tim broke OURFC’s try-scoring record in a modern Varsity season last year with 14 tries in 9 games, and has followed it up this season with 8 tries with 2 games still to go.
Student tickets
Contact your College Vendor now. Details for your college vendor can be found on www.ourfc.org.
Match reports -
Oxford 40 Trinity College, Dublin 7
22nd November 2009 - A nine hour ferry and coach journey from Dublin took it's toll on the Trinity team last Sunday evening as the Blues went it at half-time 33 points to nil ahead. With the home sides scrum and line-out working particularly well, there was a steady stream of quality possession for the backs who ran in four tries and a penalty try in the first half. Playing on the right wing, Will Browne continued to show his finishing ability with a brace, while centre Jules Alffrey added one with fly-half Ross Swanson also scoring a try and converting all bar one. Trinity came out for the second half determined not to be humiliated and produced a much more gritty and determined performance and managed to tie this period 7 points each. The Blues scored a sixth try after 50 minutes from wing Tim Catling, but Trinity had the last word with a converted try from scrum-half Sam Bell with the last action of the match. Catling has now scored 8 tries in his last 5 games. Yet the Blues' top scorer is Will Browne, who has scored 12 tries in all games this season. The Blues play their final match before Varsity on Monday 30th November at home to Northampton Saints, kick off 7.15pm.
Oxford 51 Stanley's 5
18th November 2009 - The Blues comfortably defeated the Major Stanley's XV by 51 points to 5 on Wednesday evening. The Stanley's side led by former Wasps, Castres and Harlequins flanker Paul Volley, was filled with former Blues and rising Premiership stars, such as Owen Farrell, James Short, Jackson Wray (all Saracens), Johny Hilton (England 7s), Nick Greenhalgh (Northampton), and Dan Frasier (Harlequins). However a sharp and determined Blues side scored 7 tries; two from wing Tim Catling (Pembroke), one from scrum-half Willem Klopper (Green Templeton), second row Nic Van Zyl (Green Templeton), No 8 Chris Davies (St Edmund Hall), full-back Will Browne (Balliol) and fly-half Ross Swanson (New); who also kicked two penalties and five conversions for a personal tally of twenty-one points.
Oxford 31 Sale Sharks 31
9th November 2009 - The Blues started this match so strongly it appeared that the long coach journey and traffic delays had made a major impact on the Sale team. However, their professionalism showed in the last quarter as they came back from a 31 point to 10 deficit to earn a deserved draw. Wing Tim Catling continued his recent try scoring from with another brace, while scrum-half Nick Haydon, No 8 Chris Davies and fly-half Ross Swanson all added one each with Swanson slotting three conversions. Man of the Match was tight-head prop Oliver Tomaszczyk, whose work in the tight and loose was once again excellent. For a full match report from Ed Mezetti of the Oxford Mail, please click on the link below. The Blues next match is the annual fixture against the Major Stanley's XV on Wednesday 18th November, kick off 7.00pm, with the Official Challenge for the Nomura Varsity Match taking place immediately prior to kick off.
Blues 28 Saracens 39
2nd November 2009 - The capacity crowd at Iffley Road witnessed a thrilling game of rugby to welcome back the Blues to Oxford to play the current Premiership leaders Saracens. Whilst Saracens eventually won the game 39-28, the Blues were dominant in the first half and were in front until late in the game. The Blues welcomed back Ian Kench and Canadian International Stan McKeen to the side, both having missed the last 3 matches through injury.
A strong Saracens outfit, led by former Fijian Captain Moses Rauluni, started the strongest with an impressive early try scored by full back Sam Stanley. However, the Blues managed to weather the Saracens' storm and found themselves in a 14-8 lead after 30 minutes, with tries from man-of-the-match Nick Haydon and full back Will Browne. Oxford then scored the try of the match with a neat set piece move, which saw winger Tim Catling race home from the half way line. Saracens once again started the brightly, with a try from their Number 8 Jackson Wray. Oxford scored again when Tim Catling capitalised on the slow reactions of his opposite winger, to collect a chip through from the Blues fly half Ross Swanson and finish cooly under the posts.
However, to the credit of Saracens they showed an enormous amount of character to muster an impressive fight back. The introduction of England Saxons internationals Tom Mercey and Alex Goode proved decisive as Oxford faded in the last 10 minutes. Two late tries from James Short and Luke Baldwin sealed a Saracens victory.
Northampton 50 Oxford 0
19th October 2009 - The Blues were brought down to earth with a bump at Northampton on Monday night, when a Saints starting XV, which included nine Premiership regulars, scored 50 points without reply! However, it was not all doom and gloom for the Blues as despite the unflattering score line, the side played well in certain aspects. The scrum and line-out were solid and the backs showed glimpses of their undoubted attacking potential, but were unfortunately unable to finish off any of the breaks made.
Oxford 15 Newcastle Falcons 10
Monday 28th September - Playing against a strong wind the Blues started the better and were rewarded after 12 minutes with a penalty from fly-half Rhodri James making his debut for the Blues. On 23 minutes Newcastle hit back when a kick ahead took an awkward bounce and hooker Thompson was on hand to gratefully accept the ball to score out wide. Despite being under pressure for the remainder of the half the Blues defence held firm to make the score 5 - 3 to the home side at half time. The second half did not start well for the Blues and Newcastle extended their lead, when a clean break through the midfield was finished off by the replacement flanker in the left hand corner. Returning from a spell in the sin bin - prop Oliver Tomaszczyk, playing against his home club reduced the deficit when he bulldozed his way over from close range after 53 minutes. With less then twenty minutes to go, Ross Swanson who by now had moved from full-back to replace the injured James at fly-half, danced his way through some weak defence to score under the posts and added the conversion. With the wind at their backs the Blues now played the corners well to keep Newcastle pinned deep in their own 22 and ran the clock down to seal the victory 15 points to 10.
Player Profile
Dan Rosen (captain)
- This is Dan’s 8th year at Oxford - undergrad, masters and now DPhil.
- He has played for every team in the club - Blues, Greyhounds (2nd XV), Under 21s and Whippets (Under 21 2nd XV).
- He is a black belt in karate (be careful what you say to him!)
- He is the first Oxford former undergrad captain since Rupert Vessey - 1988
- He will start work as a biology teacher at Wellington College January 2010
