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Swansea win battle of Universities

Swansea win battle of Universities

Swansea University produced a fine display to claim the 15th annual Varsity match, being held for the first time at the Millennium Stadium Cardiff.

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The win was the University’s second in consecutive matches against Cardiff and their tenth overall in the University rugby showpiece.

It was Cardiff who had the best of the opening exchanges and were ultimately rewarded for the continued pressure with a Cameron Pimlow penalty handing them the lead.

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Cardiff continued to dominate the opening quarter and came inches from grabbing the first try of the game after a series of close drives but Swansea held strong conceding just a penalty which Pimlow put wide.

Moments later Cardiff doubled their lead again through the boot of Pimlow, with 20 minutes gone Cardiff were seemingly in control of the game. However, Swansea produced a fine moment in attack to claim the first try of the game scored by second row Henry Boot. Fly half Aled Lewis added the extras to had Swansea the lead for the first time.

With three minutes left in the half it was Swansea who took full control of the match with another fine touchdown. Swansea burst into the Cardiff 22 through Rhodri Clancy before offloading to Tom Rowland who ran in to score. Lewis was again successful with his conversion attempt much to the delight of the Swansea fans with their side leading 6-14 at the break.

Much like in the first half after absorbing a period of fierce Cardiff attack Swansea grabbed their third try of the game, they gained possession deep into the Cardiff half and after some powerful work by the forwards Swansea number eight Dan George forced his way over the line. Lewis converted giving Swansea a comfortable lead.

With little over 20 minutes left Cardiff dragged themselves back into the game through a Cooper-Wooley try, following a line out deep in the Swansea 22 Cardiff drove toward the line and thanks to some quick recycling the powerful prop crashed over, Pimlow converted making scores 13-21 to Swansea.

Cardiff continued to press but it Swansea who made the game safe with a fine try from Aled Lewis, the fly-half broke through the defence and found support before being given the return pass to score the try. Lewis converted his own score to put the scores at 13-28.

Cardiff did hit back thanks to a James Reeves try but it proved too little too late for Cardiff as Swansea held on to claim a memorable victory.

Cardiff University: I Coombes, B Chatwin, A Greendale, R Wardle, W Jones, C Pimlow, M Schropfer, G Lewin, R Grimstone, J Cooper-Wooley, J Murphy, L Bray, N Huntley, S Hendry, D Lewis.
Replacements: J Reeves, R Price, N Bridson, J Porter, G Jones, J Wood, J Casells, S Morgan

Swansea University: M Jones, D Evans, C Evans, L Chance, R Thomas, A Lewis, T Rowlands, K O Sullivan, R Clancy ©, I Williams, M Thomas, H Boot, A Bray, G Beer, D George.
Replacements: R Apsee, D Littlehales, G George, S Lewis, D Lakin, J Szabo, J Barley, R Smart.

Referee: Nigel Owens.

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