UNIVERSITY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 5

UNIVERSITY

* : CAMBRIDGE DEFEATS OXFORD J ! AITKEN’S PLAY COM- ; MENDED All the London papers to hand by the Arawa agree that the University Rugby match on December 12, the day before the vessel left, was a great game from kick-off to no-S'dc. Cambridge won by 21 points to 8, after sustaining two successive defeats at the hands of Oxford. Where Cambridge were expected to fail, they succeeded, and where Oxford were expected to succeed they failed. The Oxford centre three-quarters were pampered enough bv their forwards in getting the ball to have won the g.'ime. in the first half-hour, says “Tho Times.-’ but they could not discover : thc.ir form under the spoiling pressure ■ of the quick-breaking forwards and , the deadly tackling of the Cambridge | insides. Their strategy was bad, too, and was flagrantly disclosed by their | attempts at the impossible—trying to ■ cut through the mass of their opponents. The Oxford centre threequarters, David and Alacpherson, never found their game: they were bewildered by the unlooked-for pace of Cambridge. Tho wine three-quarters, Wallace, of Now South AYales, and Aitken, of New Zealand, played fine games, but one gathers from the ' reports that Aitken would have been much more profitablv placed at centre, wi ero Im plnved for New Zealand against t l / Springboks. "After Cambridge, twcnlv minutes from tho start, had scored a iroaled fry. both Oxford wings broke away, and were in full cry when Alelluisli tackled them I in turn, but nt last Aitken sidestepped the defence, croi-s-kicked whan almost on the line, and Kittcrmastor scored a pretty try. It was soon half-time aftei this, and Cambridge led by two goals to a try. Tn tljc second half, the Oxford centre play was again weak, and nothing camo from the Oxford heeling. Although thov got tho ball, it was Cambridge who attacked. For Cambridge. Cohen scored a trv mid kicked three goals; TTamiltyn-AATckes scored fliroo tries, and ’i oung n try. For Oxford. Kittcrmastor scored two (res. one of which was converted bv Lawton. the whom the i English Rugby Union suspended last week in coiipoctmn with his former associrl : on with the League game in Austral'a. Breakdown of Oxford Backs. The breakdown, of the Oxford back division in attack and defence was the

I surprise of the match. Alaxwoll-Hys-l lop, - tho captain, led the forwards splendidly ; but what, says “The Times,” was the good of nli tins scrumi mage science I’.nd its execution when the Oxford insides were dissipating their chances by overdoing the eut- ' ting-through or by fumbling their passes or running across field? Now I and again the Oxford wings did fi.nd I themselves with the ball; but their 1 opportunities were few and far bei tween. Oxford were outplayed by a I great Cambridge side be£UU.“e of the failure of the ;back division. And ’ Cambridge behind their fine scrummage I were wonderful to a degree that no one had expected. I All. the honours, or almost all or j them, in this great match belonged to Cambridge. We cannot recall a ’Var- ; site side that accomplished more conI sistent, team work from beginning to j end. They took no “breathers,” rer I apparently from their fitness did th.ev : want any; but it was very delightful to mark how A\ akefield kept the whole l of his players on their toes all the 1 time. Yesj as idreadv laid down, they played excellently well to a man : that I was the secret of their success. When most sides would have been tattled bv I the persistency With which Oxford were getting the ball, Cambridge broke like lightning and smashed up the Oxford startegy. Comments on Aitken’s Play. The following comments on Aitken’s play will he of interest to New Zcald “.Morning Post..” — German had cleverly sent a way Aitken on the Ini nd side of a scrummage near to the Cambridge twenty-live. Aitken, ran last, but with his usual right-handed bias, mid slung inwards a hard and dimcult pass. Kittel-master cn ught it briliiaiitiv. and. for once, the l.ain- | lnidge defence was surprised into m- | action. It was, however, a fast and clever move that have Veaten anv defence. . .' . It was however. Aitken’s best run of the day that ueiped to develop a sustained attack which enabled one of the forwards to gne Kittermaster his second try. “SlXirting Life.”—Both the. Oxford wing men—Aitken and M allace—did all they were called upon to do with the utmost certainty. Aitken divided the laurels with. Hamilton-Wickes, for although ho failed to cross the Camlirlldgo line, he ran brilliantly, cross-kicked to perfect-ion, and indulged in reverse passing of tho utmost accuracy. A\ allace, too. was i sound, and did not make a mistake. : “Daily Alai).”—One or two good . runs by G. G. Aitken encouraged th? supporters of Oxford, but on the whole the Dark Blue attack was rather obvious, and it required consider ibh optimism to expect, any points fi'om the three-quarters. ... In th? tlircequarier line the wings appeared to Le far better football players than tho centres, who can rarely have been less

■ effective. Aitken is very fast, and A. 8 C. Wallace is by no mean's slow. ’ “Alanchester Guardian.” — The centres either dropped their passes dr took them standing still, or were tack- ’ led with the ball when they ought to have passed to the wings. Naturally , Aitken and Wallace did not have no [ chance —they were usually crowded • close to the line. . . . Bad passing ruined more Oxford chances until i Aitken rushed down the line and gave i a. neat inside pass to Kittermaster, ! who scored. ’ There w-ere 25.000 people present, ' among them the King, who entered th? field and shook hands with the trams before the start. The Gvtord te-im was the same that defeated the T.*ondon Jl-o r,,.nvicPr bv 31 points to 5, when Aitken scored three tries.