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Photos: Adam Green
Despite forfeiting the plate due to a shortage of home-grown players, a Vanbrugh team which included Derwent and Alcuin players saw off Derwent.
The match had the feel of a friendly about it, as both teams played for enjoyment above everything else.
Among others, Dan Perry and Sam Asfahani played for Vanbrugh against last term’s cup winners and their influence was decisive.
It sums up the excellent spirit about the inaugural College Rugby Competition and the decent relationship between the different university and college players.
Inside the first few minutes, Vanbrugh won a scrum on the Derwent 5-metre line, instantly pinning their opponents back.
A clever kick from left to right was almost caught by an unattended Matt Stephenson, but Vanbrugh’s breakthrough came soon after.
A flowing move saw captain Chris West storm through a the middle of a ragged Derwent defence, as next year’s Activities Officer gave his side the perfect start.
Seconds later, however, former Derwent Rugby President Oliver Wessely kicked his side back into gear with a sublime penalty to cut Vanbrugh’s lead to 5-3.
Derwent’s comeback was quickly dented as Matt Holland grabbed his first try of the afternoon.
West took a penalty to himself as Derwent dozed, before feeding Holland who crashed through several half-hearted challenges to touch down. Despite West hitting the post with his conversion, Vanbrugh had taken a commanding 10-3 lead.
Derwent again responded as Wessely almost found Alex Sankey on the left with a delicious kick, but Vanbrugh extended their advantage just before the interval as Matt Thorpe went over to make it 15-3.
At the start of the second half, Sam Asfahani replaced the impressive Dan Perry and his influence on Vanbrugh’s play led to a further two tries.
Holland scored his second when he stormed through Derwent’s defence after a prolonged period of Vanbrugh pressure, but Ed Kemp quickly hit back for Derwent to turn the contest into an end-to-end affair.
Vanbrugh did not play conservatively and continued to grind away at Derwent, as Sam Asfahani scored his first ever Vanbrugh try to make it 25-8.
A terrific assist from Kemp allowed Sankey to clatter past Vanbrugh’s rearguard and go over, before Joel Hutchings was stopped brilliantly as Derwent searched for an unlikely comeback.
Alex Cochrane-Dyet scored a consolation try for Derwent in the closing seconds, but it was too little too late in the end as Vanbrugh recorded a 25-18 win.
Despite having already lost the match before kick-off, captain Chris West was pleased with his side’s display: “We’re really glad to end the season well with a good performance.”
Meanwhile, skipper Chris Judge of Derwent said: “It was a close game and we really tried to push in the final ten minutes. Our problem was we tried to rush it a bit, but I couldn’t have asked for more. We’ll soon have a new squad and I’m looking forward to next season.”
Vision MOTM: Sam Asfahani