EIZING their opportunity before the Club realized their own strength, the Fourth U.S. Marines scored the one and only try of yesterday's rugby match in the first five minutes of the game, thereby earning the right to play in the final of the Spunt Cup competition. The try was not converted and at "no side" the score read 3-0 in favour of the Marines.
With all due credit to the winners, whose bustling hard play, quick following up, and extremely close marking enabled them to emerge winners, the Club took the eye to better effect, their forwards gaining possession in the set scrummages, and their threes giving an exhibition of some very pretty movements, The game saw the Marines holding sway for the first ten minutes, when suddenly, after the winners had scored their try, the Club woke to life and forced the pace. Their forwards were the equals of the Marines pack and the Club outsides were a smooth-working machine in comparison to the individualistic play of the Marines outsides, whose passing and handling suffered in comparison to that of their opposite numbers of the Club side. Nevertheless, it was the weight, thrust and general forceful play of the Marines which enabled them to emerge winners.
Play favoured the Club towards the latter end of the first half, but the second halt saw the Marines gradually holding their own to become a distinct threat on occasions, the ball going to both ends of the field and both lines were threatened.
The ground had been watered on the previous day and was in excellent condition, and the large crowd of spectators were treated to one of the best matches of the season, the pace throughout being fast. The Club's open movements furnished many thrills.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.