Rhino was delighted to support yesterday’s game between Oxford University Greyhounds and Edinburgh University at the Iffley Road ground in Oxford.
The match, a thrilling 24 all draw, was instigated by EURFC President Andrew Widdowson, who played for the club as an undergraduate in the late 1970’s, including traditional annual matches home and away against Oxford. He then went on to undertake an education diploma at St Catherine’s College, Oxford but suffered a catastrophic neck injury in an early season college game before he could begin his quest for a Blue. Andrew eventually returned from Stoke Mandeville to complete his studies and embark on a teaching career at Felsted School, from which he recently retired back to Edinburgh.
His ambition to reinstate rugby matches between his two universities was shared by a number of friends, including Rhino CEO Reg Clark who played against him for Oxford on a number of occasions, and a group of those friends subscribed together to present a trophy in Andrew’s honour for annual competition.
Edinburgh, who are en route to play St Andrews at the Richmond Athletic Ground in their Annual Varsity Match, which now takes place every other year in London, will take heart from a very impressive first half performance which saw them take a 19-7 lead over the Oxford second string side, who included a number of players coming off the University’s recent successful tour to Russia.
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OURFC and EURFC captains Jacob Taylor and Cameron Muir with Andrew Widdowson and the new trophy. |
Reg Clark with the trophy at the Iffley Road ground. |