40,000 spectators Oxford bridge universities played a draw of three points all in their annual Tugger match. The game was play-fed_under fine weather conditions.
This, the 25th game of the series, was crowded with more glamour than any game since the war. It was crammed with thrills, play running from end to end with flashing' runs and thunderous rushes. But outstanding above all was Oxford's indomitable. tackling and fierce marking which put a stranglehold on the Cambridge attacks.
Both before and after the interval though Oxford appeared to be cracking they several times held out with inspiring heroism, staving off thrust after thrust.
'Oxford appeared to have the game their pockets before the interval. They won most of the scrums and bundled over the Cambridge thzeequarters merrily. Cambridge at this time only made' spasmodic thrusts, chiefly by means of forward rushes, but the versatility of Smeddle nevertheless gave them a 3—0 lead at the interval, Smeddle, realising the futility of straight running adopted ruse when Cambridge were for the moment king distance. He came ireumvening the whole mass of players, and then suddenly dashed for the corner. Scrum was formed. Cambridge heeled the dall and it went to Tallent who went back in Smeddle's tracks and wormed his way in near the posts, as the tacklers came up, for a snap try. The goal kick was charged down, Shortly after the interval when pi was swinging to and from across the centre line Oxford were awarded a penalty thirty yards out, on the touch line.
The angle was very acute but Henley, the New 3 Zealande:
placed the earefally amid expectant Tanded a beautiful goal amid a crash of applause.
Thereafter Oxford had an unenvible ordeal. Cambridge settled down in front of the Oxford posts, liefing Passes radiated from the Oxford line and only by mustering the last ounce of determination did Oxford stay off defeat, Oxford, in the Ist minute, dram-tically frustrated Smeddle. He was. making another curving run, had short-punted the ball over the back's head, and was about to fall on the ball for a try when an Oxonian dashed across and just got his hand to the ball a fraction of a second before Smeddle.
Reece, Hofnieyer, Roberts and Minns saved Oxford against the continual thrusting of Threats, Smeddle and Tallent-—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.