A GUTSY Cambridge University side was no match for a talented UNE Invitational XIII in Armidale last night but for a young side short on rugby league experience the tourists will take plenty from the game.

The locals won 50-18 with John Roberts and Alistair Faulkner both crossing for three tries each.

The game was marred by a bad arm injury to a Cambridge player early on but even after a further injury left the Brits with just 13 men they kept trying.

“They kept coming,” UNE coach Mick McCarthy said.

“After that early injury it was played at a good pace.

“It was good to see the rugby union boys fitting in.

“Dave Schmude at five-eighth had a good game and Alistair is very good and John Roberts. “It was enjoyable and there were some good tries scored.”

Sam Piddington also had a big game while Fred Waters and Clarrie Moran showed why they are Group 19

representatives.

Cambridge has done it tough since arriving in Australia and the injury toll made matters worse.

“It was an eye opener,” Cambridge captain Matthew Bray said.

“We came to Australia having not played for four and a half months.

“We came down here short on numbers because of some injuries earlier in the tour so we expected to be short on interchanges.

“With no interchanges the boys had to dig in.”

But despite the difficulties the downunder tour is proving a great experience.

“You can see the tour has done wonders,” Bray said.

“It’s really helped our confidence and you can see it on the field.

“It’s really paying off for us.

He said most of the side is relatively new to league.

They have one more game on tour against a NSW Universities Select side on Saturday having begun the trip in Brisbane last week.

There the team also saw an NRL game and met Brisbane Broncos players and coach Wayne Bennett.

They may not have won a game yet but the boys from one of the world’s most famous institutions are helping put student rugby league on the map and are showing what the 13-man-game can be for those with brains as well as brawn.