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FINE FORWARDS1 i

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FINE FORWARDS All Whites Ex- I tended by Neath. I  ?T5???T' JOE REES' GREAT I -4 DISPLAY. ) I (By PEN DRAGON.") I In the light of what happened at St. Helen's on Saturday, one wonders why Neath have been doing so badly. Tl. >ie were periods during which they looked like winning. Their forwards were a trong, resolute lot who revelled in the rushes, and their kclding was an ol ject lesson in thoroughness. It was not, per- haps, clever football, but it was on* of the fastest forward games within my re- collection. The marvel of it is that the tv. o packs lasted so well. They were up and down the field like a lot of terriers, yet they finished up comparatively fresh. Like Swansea, the All Blacks have all along been at a disadvantage behind. That was why they lost at Newport. I heard it the other day t-hat their forwards were not up to the pre-war standard; but whatever their shortcom- ings may be in the scrummage, I am sure that they have never done better I in the rushes than they did on this occa- sion. TOUCH AND GO. I I It was touch and go all the way I through. Until about half an hour be- fore the end Swansea looked like losing. There had been several attempts to drop goals bv both sides, but before the in- terval Neath had bustled Swansea off their game, and when they got the lead they made a valiant attempt to keep it. The turning point came when Ben Hey- non dropped his goal. This score was thoroughly deserved, for Swansea had been pressing for quite a quarter of an hour. A moment before Anthony Evans crossed ,and although he was re- called, those in a position to see main- tained that a score should ave been allowed. Willie Jones's try was not of I the accepted Welsh pattern. it came after some scrambling play, hut the scorer at any rate deserved commenda- tion for the way in which he got to the hrdl after it had been kicked over the line. KEEN BUT CLEAN. I It was a game in which* tronper might easily have been lost. The tackling was not exactly of the feather bed variety, hut the feeling was always good, and the ftoppages owing to injuries only num- bered two or three. It was unfortunate that the diminutive Neath half-back, Watkins, damaged his knee. He stuck pluckily to his task, but it was evident that he was badly handicapped. By the way, Watkins must be about the smal- lest man operating in first-class football. lie is a pocket edition of The Bullet." There was an improvement in the play of Willie Jones. He varied his play nicely at times, and it was evident that lie and Beynon had been practising some new moves. What Jones wants is a little more pace. Beynon and Joe Reos were our best backs. The outside half was all out for a dropped goal almost from tho commencement, and the way in which he manteuvred for position shoflted I him to be an opportunist of the first watflf# 'I THE "STAR" TURN. I The outstanding player of the match I was undoubtedly Hees. He did not impress during the first ten minutes but when once he had settled down he lacked with fine length and judgment. His tackling was quite a feature of the Ifame, and his fielding when travelling at 1 ip speed served to emphasise what a fire f accessor to Jack Bancroft we have dis- < >vored. We saw Dr. Gwyn Thomas at Lis best during the first ten minutes. Afterwards he was given less room in iuch to work, and towards the end he al- wed himself to be tackled in possession < u two or three occasions. There was Lnrfl polish about our back play—more balance about the team fere and aft-yet: y,. saw very little in the way of passing. i, l or one thing the marking was too close. Tho new wing, Frank Palmer, was seen t) advantage on defence. ITe also showed judgment, by quickly following up his hides. In this way lie several times pre- -^nf-pd Millett from getting in a reply tackling the man and the ball. Jeffreys ] at! practically no chance. Rowlands 'I vas better than usual: Grey not quite so f-'ood. Our best forward wns R. llux- liible. He has come on greatly this season, but never has he done better than h-3 did on Saturday. THE NEATH STANDPOINT. My Neath correspondent, Rover," | writes:- j Although chiefly a duel between j the forwards, the game was a series! of thrills, and as brilliant and I attractive as any exhibition of Kugby it has been my privilege to wit- ness. Swansea were exceedingly for- tunate in snatching the laurels of vic- tory in the concluding stages of the I game; it was unexpected and not alto- gether deserved. But the All Blacks are gettin,g accustomed to the frowns of 1 fate: yet. withal, they come up smiling, and I think I can sincerely say that they have left behind at Cardiff, Newport and Swansea a reputation as fragrant as a bower of June roses. It was a compact made at the beginning of the season that whatever the result Rugbv 'rust be made attractive, and Captain Will Hop- kins and his men have kept ?hat com- pact faithfully. GREAT FORWARDS. i My friend and colleague "Pendragon" Jias no doubt described the game. Apart from saying it was like the swing of a pendulum. with a mutual defence as solid as a fortress, and with an attack as sharp as the point of a bayonet, I will accept his version. Collectively, the All Blacks' iorwards have never played with gN-U tel dash, cohesion, and understanding Their i rushes were like a whirlwind, sweeping all before them, except Joe Rees, the home custodian, who was as safe as a rock, and the one and only man who taved his side from defeat. His play on Saturday reminded me of th« famous Gamlin, and having seen all the lirst-class j organisations in Wales play this season, I unhesitatingly acclaim Joe Rees as the cleverest full-back in the Principality to- day. In the first half the Neath octette dominated the situation, and but for that regrettable injury to Eddie Watkins- I who, despite the pain and suffering which made him limp, played like a hero at the base of the cerum-1 do not think I should now be called upon to sing the song of the vanourshed. It would be un- fair to siegle out any of the forwards for special mention when they all played so. veil; if the game in which they fought BO gallantly was lost, they won something, and that was the admiration of the Swan- sea spectators. 00 OR DIE SPIRIT. j Behind the Neath pack the same spirit lCont. ued at foot of neit column.) (Continued from preceding column.) of determination existed. Although the opportunities to display the scienco of combination were rare, individual bril- liance in defence and attack uore than made up for any deficiency. Dr. Gwyn Thomas, more particularly in the early stages of the game found touch with judicious kicks and remarkable judg- ment. Lieut. Vernon Hill, who gave Neath the lead by dropping a goal from a mark, played his greatest game of the season, whilst- his wing man, \V..i-ett, was an outstanding player. It is a thou- sand pities that his opportunities are so few and far between, and I feel con- vinced that we have not yet seen the capabilities which the young and talented wing undoubtedly issess. On the left wing, Bryn Richards id n-any smart things, whilst Leopold, who was in a new position as centre three-quarter, j left nothing to be desired. Pep i\1' Tin's debut as outside-half was a success, and between him and Eddie Watkins there was complete understanding. AN UNEXPECTED REVIVAL. lo me the resu was a gi-k-at iisappOint- ment; at half-time, with Neath leading by threo points 1 thought victory was well- established I did tot count upon the rlo- vival of the S'.v-*i.sea forwards, who in the second half played with consistent dash, roserved as they were by their wonderful ftill-back. Swansea's victory is not a matter for congratulation; they won by a fluke. And thue is no reason to lament o'er Neath's defeat. I am con- fident that when Black and White clash again—it was White and Black la&t Saturday—the tables will be reversed I

I Saturday's Results.

SKEWEN BEAT YSTALYFERA. I…

[No title]

THE SWANS. ——.———

I SWANSEA BAY GOLF. I

NEW PLAYERS. 11/1

A GRUELLING GAME. !

WELSH RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP.

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I HARD LINES. I

BRITONFERRY WIN WELL, 1

IPONTY BEAT CURWEN STARS.

RACING PROGRAMME

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