Crimson Fails in Upset Attempt As California Ruggers Win, 5-0

The University of California's first visit to Harvard Stadium nearly ended in a big upset yesterday afternoon, as the underdog Crimson ruggers held the Golden Bears scoreless for 74 minutes. Unfortunately, Cal held the Crimson scoreless for the full 80 minutes, going on to win by one goal (a try plus extra points) or 5 to 0.

The game matched brawn versus speed, and while the California forwards wer usually able to gain possession of the ball, its backs could seldom take it far down field.

The Bears kicked off with a strong wind behind them, and both sides soon showed that their defenses were better than their attacks. Since the Stadium field is fifteen yards narrower than a proper rugby field, the emphasis soon switched from running to kicking.

The huge Bear team spent practically the whole first half in Crimson territory, and only tremendous punting by Alan Waddell, Jim Joslin and Jim Damis, behind solid tackling by the rest of the team, kept the game scoreless. Cal lost two men for brief periods with injuries, while the Crimson remained unscathed.

Cal missed one chance after three minutes, when a penalty kick from thirty yards was carried outside the posts by the tricky wind. For the rest of the half they kept pushing slowly up to about the five yard line, only to have the Crimson carry the ball back down the field to comparative safety.

In the second half it was the Crimson's turn to camp in Cal territory. The wind made the difference as the Bears frequently ground out a few yards and the Crimson periodically broke away for a good gain. Joslin had two chances at penalty kicks from about thirty yards out, but again the wind blew the ball outside the uprights.

While the forwards, led by John Chalsty and Bill Shane, were having all they could do to hold their opposite numbers the Crimson backs played a better game than those from Cal. Prospective Bear movements were broken up by quick tackles, or, just as often, dropped passes while the Crimson concentrated mainly on a conservative kicking game.

The match's only score came in the final six minutes, shortly after Cal had taken the ball down to the Crimson 25-yard line in one of its few long rushes.

Cal broke inside from the edge of the field, and the Crimson was a little slow getting across in defense. Four-letter man Mike White got the ball some five yards out, and fell just over the line with three Crimson ruggers hanging desperately on. Australian John Harrison made no mistake with the relatively easy kick.

This match evened the Crimson's record at 3-3-0 (2-0 in league play)