"OXFORD v. NEWPORT"
"(FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)"
"Newport beat Oxford at Oxford yesterday by four tries (12 points) to one try (3 points)."
"The result was a fairly satisfactory one from the Oxford point of view, not only because Newport are a very strong side, but because Oxford were without the services of F. A. Waldock for practically the whole of the game. Waldock injured his ankle after about 10 minutes' play and Neser was taken out of the pack to fill his place. Neser, it should be said, played quite well in defence; his kicking was excellent and he saved the situation repeatedly. W. R. Bion, too, had the misfortune to be kicked severely and was off the field for a quarter of an hour, but very pluckily resumed and was responsible for a very good combined run with G. B. Crole."
"Curiously enough, it was while they had only 13 men on the field that Oxford scored, about midway through the second half. D. D. Duncan obtained the ball in the loose after a line out and, as he was tackled, passed the ball out. O. Jenkins then got possession and passed to H. B. Simpson, who ran well and made an excellent opening for G. F. Wood. The last-named had to pass several opponents, but he ran strongly and handed off well and scored in the corner. The place kick just failed. Newport scored two tries in the first half of the game and two in the second, and thus led by 12 points to nothing before Oxford scored the final try of the match. In the first half, Newport had rather more of the play than they had in the second, when the seven Oxford forwards - reduced to six for half the time - rose to the occasion finely. Newport's first try was scored near the goal posts from a loose scramble in which Edwards got over. The kick, unexpectedly, failed. Newport should have scored again a few minutes later as a result of weak tackling by the Oxford three-quarter backs, some of whom will let their men go even after they have tackled them. A pass was badly missed by a Newport three-quarter back, however, and the situation was relieved for the moment. Another opportunity soon came again and Shea, who played an excellent game throughout the match, scored a try. The kick again failed. The first try in the second half was the result of some good play in which the ball came along the Newport three-quarter line to Shea, who, seeing himself and Thompson well marked, kicked over the heads of the Oxford defence to the goal line. In the scramble that followed a Newport forward was given a try. Newport's fourth try was a result of similar tactics."
"The game was played with great keenness. The Oxford forwards seemed to have profited by their rest and played very well under sound conditions. The Newport half-backs were too good for Campbell, although he played a hard game. The Oxford three-quarter backs were in very much improved form. Crole was excellent both in attack and defence. Towards the end of the game he brought off a remarkable tackle of two of the opposing backs, one after the other, catching the second on the goal line, holding him up and just preventing a try. Wood played with the added resolution which he has rather lacked hitherto. If he maintains his new form he will be quite first class. Simpson and Jenkins were not so conspicuous, although both did good work. Simpson was rather the better of the two. E. G. Loudoun-Shand had not recovered from the damage done to an old war wound in the last match and stood down. King appeared as back for the first time. He had plenty to do and did quite well. He is quicker than any of his predecessors and is fairly sure, though he is not a very long kick."
"The Newport three-quarter backs cannot have been in their best form. The handling of the ball by all their backs was extremely neat at times, but the play lacked finish, and the improved tactical defence of the Oxford backs prevented their opponents from taking any liberties. The largest crowd of the term watched the game. The sides were:-"
"OXFORD.- E. King (St. John's) back; G. F. Wood (Trinity), H. B. Simpson (Oriel), O. Jenkins (Jesus), and J. B. Crole (University), three-quarter backs; E. Campbell (Oriel) and F. A. Waldock (Hertford), half-backs; V. H. Neser (Brasenose), G. Francis (Jesus), W. R. Bion (Queen's), C. H. Evans (Brasenose), J. Moresby White (New College), H. F. Waldock (Hertford), D. Duncan (University), and R. G. Sharp (University), forwards."
"NEWPORT.- J. Birt, back; R. Plummer, E. Hammett, J. Shea, and R. Thompson, three-quarter backs; J. Wetter and W. J. Martin, half-backs; H. Uzzell, E. Macpherson, A. Bell, T. Jones, R. Edwards, L. Attewell, J. Radford, and M. Williams, forwards."