Men*s Blues (26) v UCLA (3) | Match Report 28.11.24

It was only reading the preview for the Blue's clash this week against the UCLA 'Bruins' that I found out they had played previously all the way back in 1978, however everyone within the squad did remember the far more recent clash last year which truly marked this game out as a serious grudge match. If the 20-12 loss against UCLA last year for a touring Oxford side wasn't motivation enough, the subsequent 52K views the game had received online certainly brought a nice edge to a productive week of training.

This fire was evident from minute one as Michael Fankah powered over the line knocking three defenders out of his path. His captain's performance didn't end there though as he lead the rest of the pack in a display of unprecedented scrummaging dominance. The strength of this scrum dominance was further bolstered by Jasper Singh who uprooted his opposite front immediately after being subbed on to the pitch in his first appearance for the Blues. He was not the only debutant to feature as Ned Bowman started for the Blues after impressing in previous weeks both on the pitch in training and off the pitch in the dining room with his extreme bulking programme of twelve hashbrowns a day helping him get up to match weight. And he certainly threw that weight around getting stuck in to plenty of tackles and carries for a full eighty minutes undeterred even after breaking his nose in the second half.

Beyond simply individual performances the Blues as a whole produced arguably their most complete team performance of the year showing structure and execution in their attacking rugby as well as real grit and high standards in every defensive set. This provided the supporting crowd plenty of entertainment in both innovative attacking play and big defensive hits. It was however player/coach Zenden who stole the limelight as fan favourite in his role as 'man in charge of throwing the ball back onto the pitch after the try', after seemingly enjoying the role so much we can only hope he'll agree to give it up when he's recovered from his injury and fit to play again.

Credit must also go to the opposition who gave a spirited performance spurred on by their travelling fans as well as a contingent of particularly vocal local supporters (Oxford Brookes students). Overall however, more tries from Tom Toze, Jack Hamilton and Wolfe Morne helped the Blues secure a 26-3 victory providing an excellent platform as they look ahead to the Major Stanley's fixture and the imminent tour to Georgia!

Written by Stu Brown (Magdalen)

Full match photos can be viewed here from Steve Karpa and here from Steve Edmunds