ST JOHN'S College RUFC won the first annual Varsity fixture against York University in spectacular fashion at Clifton Park yesterday - with a try one minute into injury time, writes Tony Curtis.

Brad MacDonald was the hero of the hour, with the 23-year-old bouncing back from a ten-minute stint in the sin-bin to score the winning try.

The Saints had been trailing 14-0 at the break as the University side, prompted by captain Ben Rix, settled into the game quicker.

Flying wing Sam Codrington set up Ed Massey for the first try after only 11 minutes to silence the St John's supporters, while Andy Harrison produced a moment of sublime skill to put Will Mistlebrook through. James Kennedy converted both.

A penalty from the hugely impressive Mark Bedworth pulled St John's back into the game immediately after the break, while the outside centre then converted Rob Bloom's try - even though the college were a man down after the sin-binning of MacDonald for punching.

However, MacDonald, who plays for York RUFC 1sts, made amends for his indiscretion as he took Bedworth's perfectly-timed pass and charged over a minute in to injury time.

In a double success for the college, St John's ladies beat their University counterparts 22-5.

Updated: 11:30 Thursday, March 13, 2003