first XV of the Fourth U.S. Marines advanced into the favoured position for Spunt Cup rugger honours this season as a result of their impressive victory over the 2nd XV of the Durham Light Infantry by three goals, a penalty goal, and two tries (24 points) to nil their revised line-up being very much stronger an aggregation than seen heretofore this season. Playing hard throughout and being well up on the ball, the Marines were dominant for the better part of the game, for although the Durhams held them to fairly level terms in the earlier half the losers fell away badly in the second.
The match was maintained kicking ahead and adopting their individual runs by their newly fi at a fast pace with the Marines usual quick following up tactics, ound stars being more successful than converted movements by their threes.
Outstanding was a newcomer, Aikman, who not only had speed, but was also a hard runner, carrying considerable weight.
He was able to make some clever swerving runs.
His acceptance of the ball going at top speed was commendable and he is cert (McLoin played a fine game for the winners and is undoubtedly one of their best men, while Sykes and Depizol on the wings were very fast, the former being prominent with his touch finding, Goush, a newcomer deputized for Alexander, and showed promise although he is not up to the former's standard in kicking: Ferril replaced Drissell in the serum half position, the latter going into the 2nd XV. Of the Marine forwards, Bixler was outstanding, playing a hard game and being well to the fore in every movement, He paved the way for a number of tries and was generally a very hard man to stop, making the best use of his bulk and speed. Davis made some good place kicks. Solow made a return to the pack, after an absence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.