THE MORNING POST

London, England

28 March 1896

(page 5)

UNIVERSITY CHESS MATCH.

The 24th chess match between Oxford and Cambridge Universities was played at the British Chess Club yesterday, and resulted in a victory for Oxford, thus making the result of the total number of matches played:—Oxford [illegible]: Cambridge, 15: drawn, 1. Four players who took part in last year’s contest were included in the Oxford team [illegible], namely, Mr. Lawton, Mr. Spencer Churchill, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Robbins, while the former representatives who again appeared on behalf of their university were Mr. Naish, Mr. Varley, and Mr. Quinn. Thus half the players taking part in the match were new men, and it is satisfactory to observe that they well maintained the standard of skill that is customary in University Chess.

Mr. Lawton and Mr. Naish, who headed their respective teams had a remarkably interesting game, the Oxford man opening with the French Opening. He won a Pawn, and [illegible an excellent attack on the Queen’s side which, [illegible] to an exchange of pieces, gave him an easy victory in the end game with two passed Pawns threatening to [illegible]. Another game quickly concluded was a Centre gambit successfully conducted by Mr. Quinn for Cambridge against Mr. Cooper, who got a good attack to begin with but hurried it too much, and lost by a series of [illegible] sacrifices. Another game was won for Cambridge soon afterwards by Mr. Crowley, who, after defending the Centre Gambit played by Mr. Robbins and getting somewhat into difficulties, was rather fortunate in winning [illegible] his opponent’s failure to keep within the time frame which necessitated 40 moves to be made in two hours whereas Mr. Robbins only completed 38. A drawn [illegible] between Mr. Fraser and Mr. Parker left the score [illegible] favour of Cambridge, but Mr. Jenkins made matters [illegible] by beating Mr. Battersby, who had pressed a vigorous attack against the Queen’s Fianchetto, but gave up too much in his endeavour to carry it speedily to a successful [illegible]. Mr. Spencer-Churchill scored another game for Oxford after a hard contest with Mr. Varley, who was at some disadvantage throughout in consequence of the weakness of his King’s Pawn, arising from an inferior variation of the French Defence. This result gave the victory to Oxford, the remaining contest between Mr. Ward and Mr. Sumner being drawn after some lively play, in the course of which success inclines alternatively towards either side.

fter the match the players were entertained at a [illegible] and a smoking concert by the members of the English Chess Club, Sir George Newnes presiding. The following is the score of the match:—