Oxford rally and plunge Cambridge into despair

The Dark Blues looked down and out when they trailed 19-6 early in the second period, but three tries in 16 minutes from full-back Sam Egerton, flanker James Harries and substitute Charlie Marr left Cambridge crestfallen.

Marr added a conversion and a 78th-minute penalty to seal the win, and centre Cassian Bramham-Lawl booted two first-half penalties after Oxford lost their captain John Carter through injury. Wing Andy Murdoch scored Cambridge’s solitary try just before the interval, with full-back Rob Stephen kicking four penalties and a conversion.

Wasps centre Lee Thomas has been ruled out for the rest of this season through injury.

The Aviva Premiership club have confirmed that Thomas suffered a ruptured Achilles during last weekend’s league game against Exeter at Sandy Park, and he faces a lay-off of six to nine months.

“We are bitterly disappointed to lose Lee, who was really starting to find his feet in a Wasps shirt,” Wasps rugby director David Young said. “I thought he was excellent against Leicester and played very well against Exeter until he was forced off, and it’s a big blow to lose him for so long.”