The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-13 00:00:00

OXFORD.

St. lb.
1. W. P. Bowman ... 10 11
2. J. H. Fish 12 0
3. E. S. Carter ... 11 9
4. W. W. Wood ... 12 5
5. J. C. Tion6 13 5
6. F. Crowder 11 11
7. F. Willan 12 3
Stroke—lL G. Marsden 11 11
Cox—C. It Tottenham 8 8

CAMBRIDGE.

1. W. H. Anderson ••• ••• .. 11 0
2. J. M. Collard ... ••• ••• 11 3
3. J. W. Bourke ... ... 12 . 9
4. Hon. J. Gordon... ... 12 4
5. F. E. Cunningham ... 12 12
6. .T. Still 11 12
7. H. Watney 11
Stroke --W. IL Griffiths 12 0
Cox--A. Forbes ••• •.• ..• 8 2
The weights above given are of the last receipt.
The change of fixture this year from the 24th of
March, the date of the last race, to the 13th of
April, consequent upon the lateness of Lent, was an
advantage, both to the competitors and to the
public, as it gave the former more time for prepara-
tion, and the latter, who visited them at Putney,
much milder weather than they could have expected
at an earlier period. It has never fallen to our lot
to record a more auspicious time for training, and
the crews both availed themselves of it to the very
utmost, and if hard, unceasing labour, self denial,
and strict diet can qualify men for great physical
exertion both crews must have been in first-rate
condition. There was no marked super excellence of
style in either of the crows, but they both propelled
their boats very fast, and although the times up were
timed, and the times down were timed, with copious
notes of the number of strokes, and state of the
tides, hundreds who wended their way to Putney
to learn how to lay out their money left it no wiser
than when they went. The Oxonians' brilliant vic-
tories had given them the Prestige, and 6 and 7 to 4
had been laid upon them before they came to Lon-
don ; and although there was a temporary fluctua-
tion of the odds, as the Cantabs were ever and anon
thought to have done something particularly good,
the Oxonians were generally the favourites at the
price above
quoted, and at which they were backed
at the conclusion of their hard practice on Thurs-
day,
when for the second time only during the
whole of their stay at Putney they had somewhat
above
unfavourable weather for rowing practice. Yester-
day, as usual, they merely took such slight excercise
as was necessary to prepare them for the race which
in a few hours was to be contested.

The morning was gloomy, and as people hustled in cabs
and other conveyances to the various steamboat piers the
rain began to patter down. Everything denoted extreme
excitement, and steamer after steamer, to the number of
twenty, pulled up to Putney-bridge. The rain now fell
nothe a v
seemily to
, with
deter a sttihflosberewezneo fromhad
assembled from the AKS-W-, but it did
retain-
ing the positions they had taken up, but the numbers were
not so great as last year. There was very little necessity
to have put visitors to the inconvenience of being afloat so
early, as the start really did not take place until after nine
o'clock, and the spectators were all this time exposed to the
pitiless pelting of the storm. At length both crews
showed, and were greeted with deafening cheers. Oxford,
as usual, won the choice of station, and took the Middlesex
side, the officers being very close abeam. Mr. E. Searle soon
appeared in the head of the umpire's boat as the starter.
The sterns of the wager boats were held from skiffs
moored off Hammond's, and let go on the appointed signal.
" Are you ready ?" was scarcely responded to, in the
affirmative, than both boats went away at a fair pace. It
was a good start, and at the first instant was taken by Oxford,
but in the next their opponents were alongside with them,
the pace settling into 39 strokes per minute of Cambridge
and 38 of Oxford. All cleared their oars well, and they
continued level until above Guy's Cricket- ground, where
Cambridge led by a couple of yards, lout a slightly increased
action on the part of the Oxford crew brought them for a
moment again level, in which position they reached the
Point, both at about 38 strokes per minute. Nearing the
Crabtree Oxford again put it on, and led by about a yard,
and in crossing the water increased it to another, but the
Cambridge stroke putting on about 40 strokes a minute
again went in front, vociferously sheered, and arrived at
Hammersmith-bridge ju3t heading their opponents, and in
7 min. 50 Fee. after the start. Cambridge now increased
their lead to nearly half a length to Chiswick church,
where, by a fine spirited effort of the Oxonians, who
were only rowing 37 to the other's 38 strokes, they began
to lead sightly,, and the Cambridge to fall off ; but at a
little before Barnes-bridge Cambridge made a most gallant
rush.for the first place, and came up within about two
yards and then fell off again. It was a flue race up to
Barnes-bridge, which was reached in 17 min. 33 sec. ; most
surprising work on such a tido, with an adverse wind.
Again the Cautabs made a dosporate effort to get in front,

but the pace of Oxford was too fine ; but they had no time
to lose through Out, and superior power won them the
raco.

Oxford won by half a length. Time by Benson's mark-
ing chronograph--22 min. 39 sec.

The Oxford and Cambridge Four Match
at Billiards.

--4

Tho above match was played last evening at the St.
James's-hall. The room, which, fitted up to hold about 400
spectators, was crowded to excess, and much interest in the
result was exhibited be those present. Tho table, made
by Messrs. Cox and Yeman, was a very excellent one,
and highly ornamented, reflecting great credit on the
firm. Oxford Jonathan presided at the marking board with
his usual care and ability. The gentlemen selected to sus-
tain the honour of their colleges were Mr. If. E. Stans-
field, of Trinity, and Mr. S. P. Wickham, of Jesus, for
Cambridge ; Mr. W. W. Rodgers, of Exeter, and Mr. E.
W. Watts-Russell, of Christ Church, for Oxford.
The balls were broke at eleven minutes past 8 o'clock.
A t the opening Messrs. Stansfield and Wickham played very
steadily, but the superior hazards of Mr. Rodgers told
heavily against them. At the end of the first quarter of
an hour the game stood—Oxford, 50; Cambridge, 34-
These relative proportions were kept up to a quarter to
nine o'clock, the score then being- Oxford, 101; Cam-
bridge, 68. At nine o'clock Oxford was 150, Cambridge
90; and various bets of 4 to 1 on Oxford were freely
offered, but no takers. At 9.20 Oxford was 201 to Cam-
bridge 146. From this time Messrs. Wickham and
Stansfield settled to their work, and, by dint of good,
steady playing, brought their score up to 201 against
Oxford 212. Some very excellent play was now exhi-
bited on both sides, and the score at 9.50 was—Oxford,
251 to 240. Mr. Wickham played two excellent breaks
of 20 and 17, and Mr. Watts-Russell one of 29. Mr.
Rodgers got a break of 16 through a fluke, and Mr. Stans-
field, made one of 18, landing the score at ten precisely'
amidst much cheering, at 282 all. Discretion now seemed
to be the better part of valour, and the over-careful spar-
ring on both sides became almost tedious; but on the first
opening that offered Mr. Watts-Russell made a break of
25, followed by Mr. Wickham with one for 18, who then
discreetly gave a miss in baulk. The game then stood,
Oxford 372 to 354. Mr. Watts-Russell made another run
for 15, and careful sparring became again the order of the
day. Mr. Wickham broke the spell with a capital 4
stroke, followed by a 6, but, unfortunately, broke
the tip of his cue. The game then stood, Oxford
400 to 365. Mr. Watts-Russell then went in
and made the greatest break of the match, 45 points,
at the conclusion of which he was greatly cheered, and
well deserved it. He immediately followed it up with
another break of 21, making the score 498 to 396, leaving
his partner, Mr. Rodgers, the honour of playing the game
stroke, which ho succeeded in doing despite the strenuous
endeavours of Mr. Wickham to prevent him. Thus Ox-
for, won by 104 points—time, 2h, 40m. Only ouco during
the match had Cambridge the slightest chance. Front the
first it was apparent they were overmatched, and great
credit is due to all for the steady style of play exhibited.
There were no violent blows or attempts at showy clap-
trap strokes, but each wont in to do his best, and the
almost total absence of fluking proves that every stroke
was well considered before it was played, and to that cir-
cumstance, and that alone, is attributable the time occu-
pied in playing the match. There were, as might be ex-
pected, sundry errors of judgment, and had Messrs. Wick-
ham and Stansfiold, with the power of cue they already
possess, availed themselves previously of the services of
one of the many professional players, the result might
have been different. The single-handed match will be
played this evening at eight o'clock, between Mr. Rodgers
(Oxford) and Kr. Wickham (Cambridge).