Varsity 2011

Hundreds of students turned out to fight for their respective side in yesterday's Varsity matches between Imperial College and Imperial Medicals.

Overall Varsity win for IC is bittersweet as Medics take the JPR William's Cup once again.

Hundreds of dedicated and energetic students turned out to fight for their respective side in yesterday's Varsity matches between Imperial College and Imperial Medicals. The day ended with a bittersweet victory for Imperial College who won the overall competition but lost once again to Imperial Medicals in the event finale, the JPR Williams Cup at a new venue: the Twickenham Stoop Stadium, home to Harlequins RFC.

The day kicked off with hockey, football, lacrosse and rugby matches at Harlington Sports Ground, training home ground to QPR FC. Matches started at 09.00 and went on until 16.30 with presentations made by Professor Rees Rawlings, ex-Pro-Rector and President of ICURFC and Grant Danskine, Operations Manager, Sport. Indoor sports including netball, basketball, squash and waterpolo were played throughout the day in Ethos and participants were presented trophies by Kelly McKenzie and James Blackley, Ethos Centre management Team. Meanwhile over in Wilson House, St Mary's campus, the battle for badminton victory was hard fought.

Coaches of students arrived at the Stoop from 18.00 onwards to watch the much anticipated event finale along with past students, Imperial staff and guests. With approximately 1,400 people present, the two Rugby 1st XV teams must have felt the pressure to perform to the best of their ability and, despite the score of 25 to 12 to the Medicals, they all did with some of the best rugby seen so far in the history of this competition.

After a sterling performance by both the Imperial College Wind Band who played three pieces and the Imperial College Titans, the College’s new cheerleading squad, who got the crowd behind both teams, the 1^st XV squads lined up to meet Neil Mosley, Head of Sport Imperial and Assistant Director of Commercial Services, Sir Keith O'Nions, Rector of Imperial College and of course the legendary JPR Williams himself.

With a bright start from both and the supporters in good voice, the atmosphere was building in the stadium. Imperial College then missed a penalty from in front of the posts followed by Medics missing their penalty – there were nerves still to settle. Medics were given another penalty which this time, Dan Neville kicked to safety to put the first points on the board. Imperial College then hit back immediately with the first try of the game scored by number 12 George Lane. With the match heating up, Medics number 5 Andrew Mowat was sin-binned leaving the Medics a man short until half time.

Barely two minutes into the second half, Imperial College scored their second try and this time made the conversion taking their score to 12 – 3. Half time team talks paid dividends for the Medics as they went on to score a try and conversion as well as another great penalty kick by Dan Neville taking the Medics into the lead for the first time. With 15 minutes to go the match was still for the taking until Craig Nightingale’s converted try catapulted the Medics into a solid lead of 20-12. As the College put their all into the last five minutes, the Medics secured victory with a final last minute try with the match ending 25 – 12.

A very disappointed Imperial College side received medals from Sir Keith O'Nions whilst JPR Williams presented Medics Captains, Ed Pickles and Jonny Fisher with the coveted JPR Williams Cup trophy which has now been lifted by them 9 times. JPR Williams chose Imperial College match-star number 13 Ben Adubi as the much deserved Man of the Match, sponsored by Target Jobs.