The Crimson Rugby Club, still cherishing hopes of finishing at the top of the league, suffered a final, decisive defeat at the hands of a tough, well-balanced Princeton team Saturday, 12 to 3.

The Tigers, who Crimson captain Hal Churchill said, "played the best rugby of any of our opponents," dominated play throughout most of the game and capitalized on numerous Crimson mistakes. A large crowd, enhanced by the youth and beauty of Princeton's spring weekend, watched the Crimson fumble away the ball again and again, as the three quarter line put on its weakest display of the year.

The team has some excuse for its poor performance, since five regular starters were absent. This has been one of the team's occupational haazrds for away games. Players in the graduate schools are often unable to make the long trip to other colleges, because of their pressing work schedule.

Wing forward Bill Morse scored the only Crimson try of the day in the second half, sprinting 20 yards to the goal line to climax a long Crimson forward movement. The Tigers went out in front in the opening minutes on a successful penalty kick and a try, then pushed over the final two tries in the second half to give the Crimson its worst shellacking of the year.