The First Varsity Match

This question caused no little controversy in some quarters – at least one person insisting that the first sport in which Oxford and Cambridge competed against each other was rowing.

Wikipedia, however, agrees with the question setter: "The country's longest–running series of varsity matches is played between the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, dating back, in addition to the 1827 University Match in Cricket mentioned above, to the first "Boat Race" in 1829 and the first "Varsity Match" (in Rugby Union) in 1872."

Note that according to Wikipedia, only the rugby match is known as "the Varsity Match". This is reiterated on the Wikipedia page headed The Varsity Match, which refers specifically to the rugby match. This page goes on to say that "Varsity matches between Oxford and Cambridge are also arranged in various other sports." The link in this latter statement goes to the previously linked page; this however is headed "Varsity match", while the page about the rugby match is headed "The Varsity Match".

The inference seems to be that any sporting fixture between two university teams – not even, necessarily, Oxford and Cambridge – can be referred to as a varsity match; but the Varsity Match (capitalised) is the annual rugby union fixture between Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Wikipedia does however back up the question setter, agreeing that the first varsity match (no capitals) was played between Oxford and Cambridge in 1827, and the sport was cricket.