RUGBY FOOTBALL AT CAMBRIDGE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14983, 2 June 1914, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL AT CAMBRIDGE.

(By a New Zealand TJ ndebgbad-A-b). The Cambridge team this season contained eight internationals; with a full eide it would, in my opinion, have had a. close game with tho best provincial teams in New Zealand. The play was more in the New Zealand 6tylo than usual; owing to the exceptional threequarter line, with internationals from England, Scotland, and South Africa, tho forwards wero more keen to open the play. The opposing teams usually - paid great attention to forward rushes and long, hard-shoving scrums. The fact that the half always puts tho ball into the scrum and then goes round to $ct ifc when heeled, shows that it is a ioager business than in New Zealand. The formation outside tho scrum does not make the play materially different from New Zealand back-play; perhaps the fly-half does not cut in ao often .as an inside five-eighths. The Cambridge O.icks wore always enterprising. Qn rarious occasions, especially in the natch against tho Harlequins, from a •crum on tho Cambridge goal-line their *>_.__.. indulged in passing behind thane, trusting to one of the three-quar-ter- breaking away. They also made onsiderablo use of long passes across :h_ ground to dodge forwards who were following uo. Cambridge won nearly all the matches up to—and of couree including— the * match with Oxford. This term the record is not so good. Some of the men have ''gone down 1 ' from Cambridge, the? international "caps" ' aro neeaed elsewhere, the chief understuay of tho three-quarteis -uccfessiulh sougnt his hockey blue, a promising forward represented tha 'Varsity at lacrosse, and tho next _ea_oi_*_. possibles are being tried- & realh representative side is the esc.ption ! rather than the rule in tho Lent term. ; College rugby is disappointing Moat • colleges possess a few first-class players ' but the backs are always uneven anil lack combination, while" none of tbe forwards have any idea of staying each f in his own place iv the scrum. Thia ' iack of method and combination is ! largely due to the absence of practice- ' games. In the first week of the season ! shere are threo or four practices, but ■ utter that nothing but matches. There ' on-the average, three matches- a ' vvees:, usually against other colleges, chough sometimes public schools pro-;' •;idp the opponents. Under these con- '■ uttons it is natural that tha play is ' tot very consistent, but flashes of bril- ■ iant play are frequent—despite the • act- that blues seldom play iv col- ' •ego.games, in my opinion, C:*nterburv ; -odege would beat neßriy all the col_ig» eides. The bigger colleges run 2nd i itteens, which get plenty ot games, but ■how a distinctiv low standard of skill. U any rate, all the Cambridge foot--all is pxayed in a most sporting spirit, •md whenever the 'Varsity team is J j

playing there is really good football to' be seen. Cain bridge, April "th.