The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

-ø FOOTBALL. I Reports cf football rcatcbfs intended for insertion in the Chronicle should reach as not iatHr thau Tuesday morning.] MAESTEG v. iENYGRAIG. Played at Penvgraig, in the presence of a small number of spectators. The following were the tearns:-Penygraig-back, G. Llewellyn; three- quarters, J. C. Evans. T. D. Lloyd, W. Phillips, R. U. Stoddart; half-backs, M. W. Rees (captain), J. Evans; forwards, D. H. Lewis, F. Casey, B. John, W. Prosser, E. Ellis, J. T. Davies, T. Thomas, and E. Ellis. Maesteg—back, A. John- son; three-quarters, W. Davies, E. Bevan, E. B. Rees, J. P. Cadogan; half-backs, S. Hopkin=, J. Milward; forwards, M, Cohen, T. Cusse, D. Jones, W. J. Davies, D. Lewis, W. H. Jobn, and E. John. Referee, Mr T. Williams, London Welsh. Maesteg won the toss, and Penygraig kicked off. and played facing a strong sun and against a strong wind. The game was for a time confined at half- way.' J. C. Evans relieved with a fine kick, and Penygraig, by a fine rush, conveyed to the visitors' 25. After a pretty pass trom M. W. Rees, Lloyd lost a certain try through selfishly holding the ball whilst near the line. '1 wo minors followed in quick succession. D. Lewis came through a serum in fine form, and enabled Stoddart to score in a favourable position. The place-kick resulted in the ball falling on the cross-bar. Soon after J. C. Evans made a fine sprint, but lost the ball, and a minor resulted. Soon after the same player passed to D. S. Lewis, who passed the whole of the Maesteg players in fine style and scored. Rees converted. J. C. Evans again relieved by a clever run, and conveyed operations to the visitors' 25. After a tine passing by the Rhonddaites R. John scored near the posts. The place-kick failed. The drop-out brought no relief, and Prosser scored near the posts. Rees converted. After the kick. out Llewellyn returned splendidly into touch. Bees dribbled finely over the line, but only a minor resulted. Lloyd again lost ground through his selfishness, but Stoddart made up for it by a pretty run to the 25 flag, and B. John scored. Rees converted. Maesteg now pressed, but Phillips relieved. HALF-Tims SCOBE j Penygraig 3 goals, 2 tries. Maesteg •• nil. Following the kick off Ellis nearly scored, and some fine passing by the Rhondda backs enabled J. C. Evans to waltz in. Bees made a grand attempt at goal but failed. D. H. Lewis headed a grand dribble, and a pass from Bees to Lloyd enabled the latter to score. Bees converted. Following the kick-cut Lewis again distinguished himself by a grand dribble, which almost resulted in a try, but Ellis scored immediately after. J. C. Evans again scored, but the place-kick failed. BUis then scored, but no goal resulted. Play was then conveyed at half-way, but Lewis relieved in his usual style. A minor resulted. Evans made a grand sprint and scored near the posts. Bees converted. The home team now fairly romped round the visitors, but Bowen brought a temporary relief by a pretty run. Stoddart then scored between the posts. Bees converted. Maesteg started with a pretty dribble, which resulted in a try by Bowlanas. D. H. Lewis came through the scrums in inimitable style, and Phillips scored between the posts. Rees converted. FINAL SCORE. Penygraig 7 goals, 5 tries, 4 minors. Maesteg 1 try. PONTYPRIDD 1ST XV. v. CARDIFF STARS. Some good play was witnessed in this contest, which was decided at the Taff Vale grounds on Saturday last. The Cardiff men came fully rep- resented, and it was expected by their admirers that after the successful issue of their previous matches with the Ely Rovers and other prominent teams that the Cardiff Stars had a sure thing on. The home men, who besides being placed at a great disadvantage by the loss of their full back, had to substitute two of their second three- quarters. Notwithstanding this they played fully up to their reputation, and frequently gained the plaudits of the spectators for the plucky manner in which they contested the match. The particu- lars show that they did not have a soft thing on. Cardiff set the ball rolling against a slight breeze, and commenced to play on the aggressive. They were equally met for a time, and the venue of the game was transferred near the home line. The homesters rallied grandly and relieved .with one of their notorious rushes up the field. The timely appearance of the visitors' full back saved a dangerous rush and play was continued in the form of a scrimmage near the home 25. Some effective work was done here by the home halves who worked like lions. More than once the ball was rushed through the scrimmages by the visitors' forwards land came spinning down the field. Nevertheless matters were equalised when Ben Lewis, the home custodian, came to the fore with his long kicks. Play was conspicuous for some time by the number of rushes made by the home team towards their opponents' territory. In this manoeuvre they were repeatedly met by the visiting quartette who managed to put in some effective kicks, and therefore transfered play for a time in tke home territory. Lewis, who was always available at the time of a nasty run, saved his s'de on several occasions. Interest ran high when the home men carried their opponents with a rush again into mid-territory. The home three- quarters were here given an opportunity to try their metle, which they did by working the ball well up the field. The ball finding its way into the open Harry obtained and was finally thrown into touch about half-way. Soon after this the ball from a kick by the visitors was transferred into the middle of the field where Noah Morgan and Lewis were given a slight chance to distinguish them selves. They succeeded between them in getting the ball near the visitors' 25 flag, where one of their three-quarters kicked out into the open. G. Harry running up managed to convey the leather over the line only to exact a minor. The kick-out gave the play in mid-territory. Some of the best forward display ever witnessed in Pontypridd was then waged and no little amusement was caused "by the peculiar tactics adopted by the halves in the endeavour to defeat each other's efforts to feed their three-quarters, conspicuous among them being < hristmaa, who played his man out. The home backs met their opponents' attacks in grand style ani held their own against their opponents. The leather after some few minutes forward play came into the hands of the visiting three-quarters. These players were, consequent upon the excellent defensive tactics adopted by the home quartette, unable to proceed far. From a scrimmage near the half-way flag in which the ball quickly bmetged, QQqld smartly obtained and ran up the field. He was quickly followed by Lewis and Harry. When about ten yards from the line Gould transferred to Lewis, the latter scoring easily. An appeal to the referee by the visitors was made but nothing resulted, and a bad attempt was made to convert. Play was resumed in earnest after this. The home men had to put in all they knew to prevent their opponents scoring. Once now and then the scrimmages, which were numerous, would be broken consequent upon bad combination on the part of the home back, and left play to be pursued in the open. Ever and anon the home three-quarters prevented any individual distinction being gained by the opposite quartette, and collared their men in a most effective manner. Scrimmages and lines out formed the greater portion of the after play, no advantage being gained on either side. When half-time was called the score ran:— Pontypridd 1 try, 2 minors. Cardiff nil. The lemon and breathing time having expired I the game was resumed. I he visitors kicked off badly and the ball was forced in a short time near their line. Scrimmages were then formed which I gave the spectators an idea of the relative merits of the both backs. It was noticeable that t'ie Cardiff men gained but little advantage aId; r quently showed s:gas of fatigue The ham ? rne i Seemed to oms up to t ieir o'd form, an < ne. er or a moment shirked their duties. The halves at this juncture of the game had some work to do They were in and out intercepting each other's play doing excellent service for their respective sides. Never did Gould and Christmas have such an amount of work to do. They were equally matched on the other side by Bennett and Hill. Play was continued in mid-territory for some time from the commencement of the game. No effort was lacking to improve the position of the home team and some good rushes were made by I' the forwards, W. Williams, Mitchell, Howells and Miles putting in some clever work. The ball at times came on to Alf. Lewis, the home skipper, who essayed to get away. Play was too close to give him a fair scope, and no more tries were chalked to his credit Noah Morgan, who played centre, failed to feed his wingmen as he should, some excellent opportunities in this way being thrown away. Scrimmages, lines out, and rushes followed the next ten minutes play, and the referee, Mr Phillips, was frequently appealed to. Little work was given the home three- quarters to do. Their only duty seemed to be to steal the ball froji their opponents. During the latter part of the game the homesters showed themselves a superior lot. They forced their opponents in their own 25 for a considerable length of time. Although Pontypridd held the sway for a short while, the Cardiff men looked dangerous on many occasions. A splendid rush by them down the field was with difficulty stopped by the home men, and the visitors' centre three- quarter made a splendid shot for goal. It only missed its mark by about an inch and knocked up against the cross bar. Pontypridd relieved after this. The visitors again pressed and exacted a hard-earned minor. This was repeated once more after a hard struggle, and never did the home men feel themselves in a mist when about 10 minutes to the call of time. They were penned in their own 25 unable to improve for some time. Ben Lewis, however, relieved splendidly with a kick, and the ball was rushed into the visitors' citadel, where a minor was chalked in favour of the home men. Within about five minutes of the call of time a visiting forward when near the home line got over, but losing the ball a minor only resulted. This almost disheartened the visitors, whose play hereafter was not conspicuous for the dash dis- played at the commencement of the game. Noth- ing important was done up to the call of time. FINAL SCOBH; Pontypridd 1 try, 3 minors. Cardiff Stars 2 minors. PONTYPRIDD 1ST XV. (THDBSDAX) V. ABERDARE 1ST XV. A good game was the result of this encounter, which was decided in the Taff Vale Football Field on Thursday afternoon last. A considerable num- ber of spectators assembled and much interest was shown in the game. Promptly at 4.20 the home men forced. A scrimmage near the visitors' territory allowing the ball te emerge into the hands of the three-quarter let Ted Lewis gain some ground. Before three minutes had elapsed from the commencement of the game a try was scored for the homesters by Gwilym Morgan which was not improved upon. Play was then waged near the home territory, and matters looked extremely dangerous for Pontypridd. The danger was infinitely increased when a line out was formed in the home territory, and strenuous were the efforts of the visitors to plant a try. They nearly succeeded when Oliver, the home custodian, temporarily relieved his side by a kick out to the middle of the field. A few scrimmages were formed here, and the referee, Mr Fennell, was allowed to assert his authority in the matter of off side play by the visitors. From one of the scrim- mages here the Aberdare forwards who were far and away a better lot broke through with a splen- did rush and took everything before them. Matters looked still worse when the ball was transferred to Jones, an Aberdare back, who went in nicely. The Aberdare men continued to press and before the game had progressed many minutes the visitors exacted another minor. Scrimmages followed in central territory, where play of a scrambling nature became slightly tame to the spectators who encouraged their men to go on. Some ineffective kicking enabled the visitors to play a little more in the loose, and the ball was rushed down to the home citadel. Ted Lewis saved in time and matters once more looked threatening for the home team. Every effort put forth by the home men failed to improve or relieve them from what looked a dangerous predicament and the visitors by combining looked every minute like scoring. Temporary relief was afforded them, however, when the ball was kicked by a home three-quarter. Here Gus Rowlands obtained and did his best to get away. His progress was stopped before he had proceeded many yards, leaving the ball near the equatorial line. The leather from here was rushed by the forwards into the home territory, and Oliver failing to relieve with a kick an easy try was the result. Llewelyn had no difficulty in converting. The outcome of a kick- out was a scrimmage about mid-way. A visitors' three-quarter (James) picked up smartly and gained some useful ground. He handed off his opponents grandly, and was not brought down until within dangerous proximity to the home line. The ball again got into the open and Hughes endeavoured to get away. Play of a scrambling nature followed soon after, and the venue was changed by a series of kicks to the half-way flag. Lines out and scrimmages formed a conspicuous element in the play that followed. Out of the scrimmages Christmas Jones was enabled to give some splendid passes out to his three-quarters. He did some invaluable work in this manner but the opportunities he gave were not availed of and matters were ultimately waged near the visitors' 25, "where a scrimmage ensued. Aberdare's play was commendable here tor the manner in which they came through the scrimmages, a proceeding which completely baffled their opponents. A line out gave an opening to Pontypridd which they failed to improve. Another line out left matters unchanged until Christmas was once more to the fore with his long passes. The ball got into the hands of J. Davies, a home three-quarter, the latter player kicking into the visitors' territory, where the visitors' custodian saved his side by a timely kicked out. Ted Lewis received. His efforts were fruitless to make anything of the oval and Rowlands obtained. The lstter player wae neatly tripped. Another scrimmare ensued about mid-way. Christmas obtained and passed out into the open. The position was not improved by his good play. A few lines out and scrimmages about mid-way gave the home forwards a chance of showing what they were made of. Half-time left the play in the visitors' 25, The change of ends and resumption of play did not make things any the easier for the home men, who were continually pressed. Some exchanging of kicks left the ball near the home citadel from a bad return by Oliver. Here play was continued for some five minutes. Soon after play was waged in mid- territory. Pontypridd tried to assert itself here and got away grandly. The ball was worked back and Christmas saved his side. From a throw out J. James scored for the visitors. The try was not converted. The kick out gave no relief, and the ball was ultimately kicked into touch-in-goal. The forwards hereinafter had matters to themselves; the preference being given to the visitors' contingent. Jimmy James tried repeatedly to do the trick, but each time be was effectively collared. For the next 10 or 20 minutes play was of an uninteresting character. Ponty- pridd forwards once or twice came out with a rush, and Gwilym Morgan showed some splendid dash. Scrimmages were henceforth the order of the day. Some good work by the forwards on both sides settled play in touch. From a pass intended for a home man a visitor's three-quarters intercepted and made off grs.ndly. He was tackled near the home 25 flag. A line out followed and the ball was rushed by the visitors out of boundar- ies. Davies kicked off. The ball was returned by the visitors, and returned by them with an additional rush exacting a minor as a result. The ball being kicked off a second time put the leather into the hands of Rowlands, who succeeded in gaining some useful ground, The ball found its way into tbuch near the home 25, where lines out wrfi-e formed. Notwithstand'ng the many efforts to meet their oppme-its the home men were unable to maintain their own f u- the next 5 minutes. The visitors pressed, and the home mea put in all taey knew. They were penned to tneir I own quarters without a prospect of being able to withstand the repeated onslaughts. A good kick out G. Oliver relieved splendidly and play was re- sumed in the open. The visitors were penalised a free kick here without any apparent advantage. Shortly after Rowlands obtained the oval and essayed to get away. He made good his chance and was not stopped until he reached the half-way flat near which he was thrown. The ball did not remain here long as James obtained from a throw out and got dangerously near the home line. A rush by the home men gave the half-way as the venue of the game. Davies mysteriously obtained and made good his escape. The result of this little bit of play was a try. It was kicked under protest and was not converted. Gwilym Morgan ahone here and on several occasions saved his side. No time was now given for more than hard work. As the ball was speeding down the field in the direction of the visitors' territory James camo forward magnificently. He was only pre- vented by Morgan, who touched the bell down. Some very fast and loose scrimmages ansuedlgave Aberdare the preference, the latter's backs follow- ing with a clever bit of passing. They had little difficulty in scoring another try before the call of time. The scores are as follows:- Aberdare 1 goal, 3 tries, 3 minors. Pontypridd 2 tries, 4 minors. PONTYPRIDD 2ND V. CANTON 1ST. This match was played in the presence of a goodly number of spectators at the Sophia Gardens Field. The weather was beautifully fine and a good game was witnessed. The game was started at 4 o'clock. Canten winning the toss elected to play with their backs to the sun. R. Davies kicked off, the ball going into touch. A scrimmage ensued near the Canton line, Ponty- pridd having the best of it. Howard Lewis relieved and the leather was taken to the visitors' 25, who were obliged to touch down in self-defence. The kiok-out was returned smartly by Flynn to half- way. Hostilities here came to a standstill owing to Harding sustaining injury. He, however, quickly rallied, and the game proceeded. From a pass Crabtree got near the visitors' line, Their halves, however, relieved, and play was removed to the oentre. Haines now headed a rush, and Crabtree securing from a cross-country kick, got over near the goal posts. Ernest Jones tailed to convert. After the kiok-out the ball was agun forced into the visitors' 25. Evans relieved with a kick into mid-territory. Crabtree intercepting a pass, threw t* Dick Jones, who in turn trans- ferred to Howard Lewis; the latter had hard lines in not scoring. Pontypridd, by hard working, brought the oval to the oentre. This was but a temporary relief, as Crabtree secured, and after a good run was on the point of scoring when he was floored by the Pontypridd back near the goal-line. Here a scram was formed and Bartlett got over. Ernest Jones was more successful this time, and covered the bar. Another minor having been notched, half-time was called, the score being Canton I goal, l try, 2 minors. Pontypridd.. nil. Rrcaihi-so lima AVfti*. naritait iVi* the return being charged down. Some good pl&Y was now witnessed, Pontypridd doing their best to turn the tide, conspicuous among them being their chief and Richards, who did yecman service in the pack. The leather on being thrown out from touch was taken by the homesters with consider- able speed to the enemies' camp. An exchange of kicks, and play settled in the centre. Harding. getting the ball from a asrum, successively dodged his opponents and scored another try. Jones con- verted. R. F. Davies kicked well out and 101110 good play in which Bartlett, Pilling, and Harding were conspicuous for Conton, forced the visitors to touch in defence. A rush by Pontypridd was stopped by Dick Jones. From now on the game was very fast, but Pontypridd failed to alter the state of affairs, and when time was called the score stood: Canton 2 goals, 1 try, 4 minors. Pontypridd.. nil. CLYDE ROVERS v. CAERPHILLY "A." The above match was played on the ground of the former, and, after an evenly-contested game, resulted in a draw. ] SCORES: Clyde Rovers 1 minor. Caerphilly 1 minor. MOUNTAIN ASH v. CWMBRAN. Played at Mountain Ash and ended in a win or the home team by four tries and three minors to two minors, the try getters being T. Aishop 2), A. Allen, and vi earns. CAERPHILLY v. HARLEQUINS "A.' Played at Caerphilly. A gocd game resulted in an easy win for the home team by one goal and four tries to nil. ST. DAVID'S v. COWBRIDGE. Played at the Sophia Gardens, and resuted in a one-sided game in favour of St. Davids by "5 goals, 4 tries, 2 minors to nil. TREHERBERT STARS T. PEN?Rh JUNIORS. Played on the ground of the former, aid resulted in a win for Pentre Juniors by 1 droppd goal, 2 tries, 2 minors, to 1 goal and 1 minor. TREHERBERT v. YSTRAD EXCELSIORS. Played at Treherbert, and after rough and tumble game resulted in favour of tie Excelsiors by 1 minor. TONGWYNLAIS WHITE STMS v. THE. FOREST W ANDEREtS. Played at Greenmeadow Lawn. Result: White Star, 5 minors; Treforest, 3. MARDY, FERNDALE v. TLFF VALE WANDERERS Played at Mardy, Ferndai, resulting in a draw. PONTYPRIDD CRUSADJRS v. TAFF'S WELL RED JOSE. These teams met on the giunds of the latter, add after a well contested gene ended in a victory for the visitors by 1 goal, 1 ty, 4 minors, to 1 try, 2 minors. The try getters or the visitors were J. Coslett and G. Roberts. The former try was converted by Enoch Phillis amidst great cheers. LLWYNYPIA 2ND XV. CLYDACH VALE 2sd rv.] This match was plyed at the Llwynypia Recreation Ground lastSaturdav, and resulted in a draw, each side scorig 1 dropped goal, 2 minors. The Clydach feam 'as strengthened by the addition of B. T. Billips, B.Williams, and David Evans, and Llrynpia availed themselves of the services of I Hughes, T. V. Parry. T. Drew, and J. Evas. The above seven, who belong to the Llwynia. 1st XV, were able to play for their home team through the failure of the Maritime to play he Llwynpia 1st. The drop goals was the outcaie of two splendid kicks by R. Hughes and B. Phlips. Of the home team T. Drew did not shin as he generally does in his I position as full bak. The two centres, R. Hughes andT. V. Parry, layed a splendid game, but were not supported b^their wing men, who were Ivery slow in taking ti passes and either mulled or kicked, rarely e)r bringing a run off. 1 he half- backs, A. Powe and J. Hartridgf, were a rare couple and farly outshone the opposing pair. The foi ward: held their own in the tight, bat want of a ood understanding more than one J lo -t for them lany excellent chances of scoring; ia this deparbe it J. Evans for the home team, aid D.Evan for the visitors played a clinking game. Ouejreat peculiarity we notice in the 4' II: v s, tlm* t.htir hacks were much heavier than their forwards, three or four of whom were exceedingly'light. The visiting back3 played a very good game, especially B Wiliiams and J. Ctrf Y. the former, ho:i!dr!i playing s if he didn't care for it in tin5 iiiso half, warmed up to his work in the second halt, and proved himself the best b-ck on the fi^ld, his t-wkhn; being a treat to see. B. T. Phillips WJS rather < ff colour, and should not have played suE'-ring as does from a nasty cut on the leg. The game for the nrat half was pi >yed in a friendly raariiiar, but towards the end | a little rough play waa indulged in. I HAFOD AND COEDCAE FOOTBALL CLUB. Mr H. C. Lewis. The Mardv, Aberdare, haskiadly consented to become president of this club, and jxmong toe list of vice-presidents and honorary members are Mr A. J. Williams, M.P., Dr J. H. Davies, and Mr R. Hooper, Cardiff. The olab has a few more open dates, and its secretary, J Edwards, 17, E:rw-road. Britannia, Hafod, would be glad to arrange home and home matches.