Frozen pitches may have wiped out the weekend’s league action, but that did not stop the Oku Memorial Trophy at Iffley Road.

Contested in memory of Katsuhiko Oku, the first Japanese player to appear for Oxford University, the annual event took place in ice, snow and mud on Saturday.

A try from Vincent’s Club captain and double Oxford Blue Peter Wright earned them a 5-0 victory over Hertford College in the final.

Oku, who studied at Hertford from 1981-3, later became a Japanese ambassador and was killed on a diplomatic mission to Iraq in 2003.

It was the first time the trophy was played at Iffley Road.

Oku had helped found London Japanese, who lost 31-15 to Hertford in their semi-final, while Vincent’s overcame Kew Occasionals 22-7.

He was also the first Japanese member of Vincent’s – Oxford’s prestigious university sportsmen’s club.

London Japanese saw off Kew 15-5 to seal third place, with their captain Rob Galbraith voted player of the tournament for his four tries, including a hat-trick in the opening game.

Oku’s close friend and fellow founder of London Japanese, Noboru Watanabe, presented the trophy.

Rhino Rugby chief excecutive and Kew treasurer Reg Clark, who sponsored the event, said: “The conditions were appalling, but no one was hurt.”