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There was nothing very surpris-! ing about the defeat of Swansea at; m-istol, for a third of the team were playing in the trial match. On J .Friday night nobody quite knew { how the Swansea team was going; to be constituted. There was a j shortage of forwards, and a couple of the men who were included had never played in first-class football before. Jeffreys appears to have been the" star turn" in the Swan- ( sea. back division. He deputised Bet Beynon at, outside half, and ren- dered brilliant service. Bristol were without Johnston, t, the English full-back, for tho whole of the second luui, he having j sustained a rib in going] down to a rush. Bristol deserved; their victory, for they were better j than the -Swansea men both for- j ward and behind. Their play was Much more scientific, and they toor: advantage of the openings offereil in quick and keen style, whilst their tackling was -determined. PLENTY OF TALENT. I What T rial Match; Disclosed. II (BY ROVER.") In pre-war days Welsh Rugby Union trial matches were regarded mure or as u farce, a sort ot preliminary canter to sioc)t reserves. In those days tile "stars" very rarely twinkled in a trial, match; they were sure of their Placf ill the national side, with the re,ult that ciiior^anie^d sictes mot in fxiciuliy combat with little or no interest attached to it. 2jut Saturday's trial match at Noalh was un exception. AFTER FIVE YEARS. I ive years' suspension of national game* owing to the war made the selec- tion of a WeLsn side extremely problem- atical. If club form, is a true reflex, there j- a glut of talent in Eastern and Western .Wales, and it was because of this fact ody three reserves were drawn upon to participate in the trial, in fact the backs, hoth. for ilia Dines and the Stripes, turned out to a man, and there was a serious and exciting competition among: t ;,cru. to oatch the eyo ior national honours. CLEVER HANDLING. The game may be sunimw up as it magnificent exhibition of the handling code. A more evenly contested coniiict would be difficult indeed to imagine, 11 l?ss than five minutes both the wearers of the Blue and the Stripes settled down in earnest, and the subsequent play lias a severe test of talent. Defence was c particularly strong ieaturc, and during the first half the clearances effected by the Stripes were magical. The try scored und converted by Albert Jenkins (Llan- cHy, R.nd which" gave the Whites a five point lead, was a great individual effort, g,nd worthilv supported the contention ot his many Western admirers that he is the "Wflt dangerous centre in the Principality. CR. FAHMY'S TRY. In the seconu hall the .blues del once was penctratPd by Dr. Fahmy, who scored vxi unimproved try, after a brilliant run, jrom an open ing made by Dando. Follow- ing the drop-out, the Btues* front line hekd the situation; they swept the field with combined rushes, only to be counter- acted by the superb defence of Hugh Jonas. At lsst Tom Parker (Swansea) and Glvn Stephens headed an irresistible attack, and whilst it was being momentarily checked, Glvn Stephens snapped up anci ihurled himself over the line. The Stripes had by no means shot their bolt; in the subsequent rushes the forwards held a plight advantage, but penetration was impossible. Success, came at last when liiuhajii Davies rcccivcd from a scinm in mid-field; racing across the field, he eluded Jerry Shea, and ran straight for the line. Joe Bees was the only obstacle between Jam and the rut, but H. Thomas, the FT>eedv Ebbw "Vale wing, was in attend- The latter took his pass, and was over like a dart, thus crowning with success one of the prettiest and exciting contributions of the game, AN ELOQUENT COMPARISON. The Blues victory hy the narrow tnar- fl",n of two points is perhaps the most eloquent comparison of superiority be- tween the teams. !The game revealed such a super-abundance of talent that it lias aggravated rather than solved the problem of selecting the national side to <1 > duty against England. Perhaps the Bines bucln were a Fb,,)(I, superior pcliio, in a gJ'ean. measure, to the understanding between Jprry Shea and Wick Powell. The New- port centre was continually making pretty openings for hig win?, and the upeedy Cardiman gave Hugh Jones, tho Stripes custodian, the chances he sought to demonstrate his tackling powers FINE FULL BACKS. And Hugh Jonü" made no mistake The ¡' conipft'ition between him and .Tee Rees (Swansea) was very close; both played remarkably well, and if Joe Ree,g' selec- tion for the Blues on Saturday is an in- l dication that he starts a favourite for national honours, then I am bound to I admit that he will find in Hugh Jones a I very hot riva.1. SHE AND POWELL. I On Saturday's form, Jerry Shea and ) Wick Powell should walk into the Webh ?am. and although Albert Jenkin? wat ?iclined to he a little bit selfish, his repu- i ?on and his won?orfnl initiative must, d necessity, influence the Selection Com- m?ee. His e.stwhih, club mate, Granam Davics, cama into tbe lim?I'.? when he I made that magnificent opening for H. Thomas to sectre, yet all through the game he was consistent, both on defence \1 attack. To select a left wing will be a difficult proposition, for both Bryn Evanf- and n. Thomas played with equal btilliancp. but did not come up to the standard of Wick Powell. The resourcefulness and brilliant op- :■ portunism of Ben Beytion ought to mini- mise the difficulty in selecting a nntiona, i outside half, and among thf- critics the expression was general that he more than von his place on the form displayed. The eeleetion of a partner will be a tk. and I doubt whether T. Reeves or W. Dando,; though they played, will be con- sidered polished enough for the positiou If a choice had to be made between the two, I should favonr Dando THE FORWARDS. If Saturday's test can be relied upon. .Wales can' boast of unpaiallel^d strength (Continued at oL a next wluiun.)

 SCARLETS LOSE.' 1

IN THE VALLEY..I

RACING PROGRAMME! -_--

GOLF.I «. i ____II

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AN IDEAL LINE.

I SWANS WIN AT MERTHY/R.

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LEAGUE RESULTS. I

"CALLED OFF." I !

SOUTHERN LEAGUE. I

JIMMY, WILDE" BEATEN."

BISHOP KNOCKED OUT.

A LLANELLY PETITION. I ■ :i

CRICKET IN AFRICA.

NEATH STEELWORKERS

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