Midfielder Lucy Anderson helped herself to five tries to lead University to a 55-12 win over an improved Southern side in the women's clash at Bathgate Park at the weekend.
Anderson took her tally of tries for the season to 21, while fullback Claire Richardson chipped in with a hat trick.
Despite the distraction of examinations, which also rendered several players unavailable, University was able to score 11 tries to two.
Lucy Emery, captaining the students for the day, led from the front in carrying the ball and initiating many of the University forward drives.
Halfback Kiera Pennell distributed well while also producing a number of sniping runs that stretched the Southern defence.
Andersen and Michaela Baker showed their class in the middle, initiating numerous breaks, and Richardson was an incisive attacker and sound defender.
Southern's effort was vastly improved from the earlier clash between the sides. Its first try came following a 60m run by winger Summer van Loenhout, and Sonya Panapa scored the second.
Southern closed Varsity down in the second half, with the students adding just 10 points in the spell. Amy-Lee Trainor and Verina Wihongi were the home side's best backs, while Nicole Newton and Kate Vallely were good value up front.
In Invercargill, Blues did a fine job holding Alhambra-Union to 15-15 at halftime before the Dunedin club sealed a 27-15 win.
The star for Alhambra-Union was regular winger Laura Edwards, who relished playing at lock and showed what a player with guts and determination can achieve.
Loose forwards Kerry Stoddart, Nicky Crawford and Paige Church worked relentlessly all game and shut down many Blues attacks.
In two weeks, the teams meet again in Balclutha, and Alhambra-Union knows it will have a battle on its hands again.
Pirates beat Kaikorai 60-0 in the final game of the round.
