The San Francisco call., 1909-10-17

The Stanford babies yesterday tasted
the fruits of victory over the California
freshmen for the first time in five
years. The cardinals won by five points
to nothing, but it was a hard win and
the blue and gold died heroic death.
The California team put up the best
standard of Rugby that it has ex-
hibited this year and was certainly un-
fortunate in not scoring on more than
one occasion. The addition of Peart.
Stroud and Graft made a marvellous diff
ference in the playing ability of the
team, and to Peart can be attributed
the fact that Stanford was not able TO
open the game up for the backs, and in
this way Peart certainly kept the car
dinal score lower than it otherwise
would have been. Great interest was
exhibited in the two different serum
formations, and Stanford's ability to
secure possession of the ball with the
3-2-3 formation against the Berkeley
2-3-2 amply demonstrated the superb
ority of the cardinal formation. But
though they secured the ball, Stanford
could not follow UP this advantage
owing to the halfback not being able
to get 1t away quick enough to his five
eighths. In this respect Peart of Call
fornia was the stumbling block that
the Stanford halfback had to contend
with. Peart was very alert, and smoth-
cred the passes time after time. Peart
however, was lucky that the referee
did not note the breaches of the offside
rule, otherwise he would have been
penalized on more than one occasion.
Even allowing for the alertnesS of
the California man it does not detract
from the superiority of the Stanford
formation as the best for securing pos
session of the ball in the serum, and
such an authority as Mother" Howe
the California assistant coach, gives the
cardinal pack full credit for its ability
in this respect The Stanford team
played splendid game, but it did not
n on . f1,e
last Is minutes of the game the Cali
fornia forwards had to play on the car
dinal line most of the time and during
this period the play never left the Stan
ford % yard territory. California at
tackled desperately and were they not
so overanxious they doubtless would
have scored. OveranXiouSnesS probably
at any rate, lost them a drawn deci-
sion.
one feature of the game that prob
ably constitutes a record is the fact
that neither side used q substitute all
through the game. The teams that
originally took the field played ali
through the game and not one new man
was sent in.
scientific standpoint was marred by
the constant blowing of the whistle
due to infraction of the rules. The
open passing play that goes to
noticeable by its absence. Notwith-
standing these things the game stands
out as the best ever displayed by the
first year men since Rugby was intro
duced here. Both teams showed q
greater knowledge of the game than
any previous baby team and the fight
was one that will go down in the his
tory of the universities as the finest
ever played from a Rugby standpoint
Stanford played a good hard game
and two of their best men were Cap
tain Mitchell and Worswick. Both were
in nearly every play that took place in
the backs and on their showing today
must certainly be considered as having
a chance for the varsity team next
month. Ellis at fullback was as cool
as the proverbial cucumber. He saved
his side on many occasions by his
steadiness and fine kicking. His find
ing of touch was one of the features
of the game. Kern at wing three
quarters also showed up well in the
few times the ball came his way IN
the forwards Baumgartner was the
pick. His following up was very COM
mendable and his all round play, par
ticiIlarly in the loose, was good Tryfe
and Murlin were the pick of the other
forwards. Both showed up well at all
times and their following up was good.
For the California team every man
worked like Trojan and deserved all
credit as team and as individuals
Hill at fullback did GOOD work and his