By Lucy Lomax

Oxford University centre Matt Janney hailed Richmond’s small part in his path to Dark Blue glory in last Thursday’s Varsity match.

Janney’s side, who had scrum half Sam Egerton sent off early in the second half, thrashed Cambridge 33-15 at rugby HQ to claim a record-equalling fourth successive victory in the annual match-up.

It condemned former King’s College School, Wimbledon, classmate and ex-Richmond clubmate Max Mather, who played in the back row for Cambridge, to defeat.

And modern languages student Janney admitted triumph so close to home made victory even sweeter.

“Walking out was even better than I expected. The feeling at the end of the game was indescribable, it was the best feeling,” he said.

“I’m pretty speechless to be honest, we really dug deep especially when Sam was sent off, but we kept our spirit and that’s what did it in the end.

“Richmond FC helped me develop as a player. My coach always told me to back myself and just to play and trust my instincts and that was what I took from my experience of playing there.”

Janney won his first blue off the bench in Oxford’s 28-10 win over Cambridge in 2011 and it was two years until he claimed his second, with the 21-year-old missing out last year due to spending 12 months abroad.

“I watched the last game from my little room in Russia,” he added.

“Walking out was kind of two years in waiting and it felt very special to be with my best mates.

“I have walked out before but it was even better this year. We are a very tight group and it was so special.”

And while Janney would love to make it a hat-trick of wins he is uncertain what the future holds.

“I’m not sure about where I’ll play next, but right now it’s Oxford. If I had a chance to play at a higher level, I’d want to pursue it,” he added.