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- FOOTBALL NOTES AND JOTTINGS.…

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FOOTBALL NOTES AND JOTTINGS. fBY "THE CHIEL. A Chiel's amang ye takin' notes, And faith he'll prent it." THE COMBINATION TABLE TO DATE. Plyd. Won. Lost. Drn. For. Agst. Pts Everton 16 ..14 0 2 77 ..12 ..30 Liverpool. 15 ..15 0 0 69 ..10 ..30 Wrexham 19 ..10 7 2 34 ..33 ..22 Druids 14 9 5 0 30 17 1» Chester 15 8 6 1 2S ..30 ..17 S. Liverr-ool 15 8 6 1 26 ..21 ..17 Tranmere R. 13 6 5 2 19 ..20 .14 Bangor 11 0 4 1 31 ..37 •WbiteS. W. 15 4 6 5 33 •• J Chirk 14 5 8 1 29 ..11 Buxton 11 5 6 0 24 .• •• Llandudno S. 15 4 ..11 0 •• •' Oswestry TJ. 11 3 8 0 *• •• GarstonC. W 14 2 ..11 1 •• •• D Rhyl 15 2 ..13 0 « -.00 4 "White Star Wanderers have had two points deducted for playing an inelegible man. SATURDAY'S COMBINATION RESULTS. 4 Wrexham, 2 5h-vl 4 •Buxton i ™°go'• 5 Llandudno; i •foutuVeVpooV: J o 1 °« *ChirK 2 White Star W 1 NORTH WALES OVAST LEAGUE TABLE. Plyd. Won. Lost. Drn. For. Agst. Pts Bangor. 6 2 0 ..18 ..13 ..12 Oolwyn Bay.. 9 G 3 0 ..22 ..14 ..12 Llanrwst 8 5 3 0 ..29 ..21 ..10 Carnarvon. 5..3..2..0..17..9..6 Rhyl 6 3 3 0 ..14 ..15 6 jHenai Bridge 8 2 5 1 ..11 '-26 5 Llandudno 8 1 6 1 ..13 ..22 3 tiolybead S. 4..1..3..0..8..11..2 SATCBDAY'S LEAGUE RESULTS. *Cartiarvon 8 Meuai Bridge 0 FRED MILNE. I In accordance with my promise I give above a portrait of Fred Milne, Rhyl's new centre forward. He has played for Sheffield United and also Sheppy United and has laid to his credit many notable achievements. Since he has played for Rhyl he has scored in every match. -0- As a general rule I hardly give Rugby football a second thought but when the whole of the United Kingdom is in a ferment over the overwhelming defeat of England by Wales on Saturday last it would be exhibiting a censurable want of patriotism on the part of an ardent Welshman like myself to refrain from expressing my satisfaction at the creditable manner in which the Welsh fifteen have upheld the honour of the Principality. It is a victory which forms a record in the annuals of Rugby International Matches and it will be many years before a like occurrence takes place again. Bangor are going strong. Of that there is no doubt, no possible doubc whatever as Mr Gilbert would say. As evidence of that mark their victory over Buxton last Saturday, und at Buxton to. Buxton beat Rhyl by four goals to one, Bangor avenged the defeat of their compatriots by scoring an exactly similar victory. Well done Bungor 1 You are worthily maintaining your presitige. Go on and conquer. -0- Llandudno Swifts did not do amiss against Everton. At half time the score stood at one goal each. But the ToffyiteB repeating their perform- ance at Rhyl piled on the agony with a venegance in the second half and finished off easy winners by five ffoalu to one. The creditable show which Llan- dudno made must be discounted somewhat by reason of the fact that neither Eccles, Crompton, Kirwain, nor Schofield were playing for them. Those of us who have seen what these players can do will readily appreciate the advantage which their absence gave to Llandudno. -0- And now for the bonne bouche. For the benefit of those who are not Frenchmen I may explain that I mean by that the dainty and apelising morsel that was served for our hungering palates at Wrex- ham racecourse on Saturday. Few thought that 41 Phillip's" despairing question "Will Rhyl win another match" would find se prompt and safe s- factory an answer. The team which the Committee sent to Wrexham onpaper was as strong as any in the Combination not excepting Everton or Liverpool. But it contained some dark horses. The darkest WAS Ike Williams who was promoted to the responsible position of goal keeper. Many felt that the experiment was a risky one and I was among the number. The appearance of Arthur Lloyd for the first time this year in the team was also an element of uncertainty. Some of us feared that want of practise would unfit him for a hard game such as was anticipated at Wrexham. Gurth Morgan Owen who replaced Will Jones, created a few less doubts because his superb play against Llanrwsc justified the expectation that he would distinguish himself. I have more to say about the three presently. For the present, I will merely say that the trio between them contributed materially to the satisfactory result of the match. -0- Some dozen enthusiasts accompanied the team and for the first quarter of an hour they were heartily sorry that they had spent their money and their time in coming. So strongly did Wrexham take up the attack that they scored twice in the first fifteen minutes. Had the Referee been ft more competent person they would have had neither of these points. The first was the result of a foul against Gurth Morgan Owen. What he did to deserve the awarding a free kick is a mystery which I suppose no one can fathom but this extraordinary referee. However, from the place kick Wrexham soored their first goal through the instrumentality of Alf. Williams. The same player five minutes later obtained the second goal when he was palpably off-side. He was almost on the goal line yards behind either of the backs. It was so glaring a case of off-side that Ike Williams made no attempt to save it. To the amazement of everyone on the field the Referee allowed the goal. Even the partisan Wrexham supporters received the decision with derison as well as surprise, and for the mom ent they were loud in their declarations that Mr Harper should referee at Wrexham again. This was not the only mistake he made during the game, he was several times at fault and seemed to take his cue from the prompting of the crowd. As an instance of this I will give one illustration. During a period of pressure on the Rhyl goal the ball was seat behind by Kelly yards past the leg of Arthur Lloyd. Some wag on the grand stand suggested they should claim a corner and forthwith a hundred voices called for a corner with all their might. As soon as he heard the yelling the referee at once gave a corner and those who humbugged him to giving it laughed at him for his pains. To begin with he was fifteen minutes late arriving on the field and his decisions were so extremely unsatis- factory that they formed the one unpleasant incident in the match. I believe that the man honestly tried to be fair but neither from the point of view of appearance or bis abilities to arbitrate can be regarded as a successful referee. As a rule Ido not care to find faultwithjrefereesjfor they have a difficult, and thankless duty to perform. At the same time when such glaring errors as were com- mitted on Saturday are perpetrated it is necessary .that publicity should be given to them. -0- I have wandered t-omewhat and must return to ,where I started, I believe I was writing of the severe bombardment to which the Rhyl goal was subjected during the initial fifteen minutes. It is to be attributed almost entirely to the loose play of the half backs who were repeatedly beaten and made no attempt to recover the ground when they had lost it. Arthur Lloyd was also playing any- thing but a safe game and Vernon Jones was not "uclt- better Were it not for the marvellous game played he Williams, Wrexham must have run up a terrific score during this time. —o— But the desired change came at length, and any- thing more brilliant than the events which led to Rhyls' first goal I could never wish for. First of all it was the outcome of as classical a piece of com- bined play on the part of the five forwards as has been witnessed on a football field. Morgan Owen using splendid judgment made his individual effort at the right moment. As soon as it was seen that he bad the ball a couple of half backs and Povah were upon him But he outwitted the three and worked the bill within two or three yards of Jardine and sent in a shot which that player must have heartily wished he had allowed to pass him. He saved it in a marvellous manner but in doing so be was fairly knocked off his legs. The corner which resulted from this was converted into a goal in an admirable manner by Gurth Morgan Owen, -0- 0 The cheers which greeted this effort on the part i of the handtnl of Rhyl supporters had no sooner subsided than the Rbyl forwards were swarming around the home goal. Morgan Owen was in brilliant form. He dribbled, he passed, and shot at Jardines' charge with the utmost skill. His opportunity came again and from twentv yards range he made Rhyl on level terms with their doughty opponents with a swift high shot which Jardine this time did not attempt to negotiate. It is suggested that this shot took the celebrated goal- keeper by surprise. But I am inclined to the opinion that it was the dynamtic force with which he knew it was propelled that accounted for his failure to save it. After this Rhyl were a changed team and bad the measure of their opponeuts com- pletely. The visions of a record score gradually vanished from the minds of enthusiastic Wrexham supporters and fat halt time they would have welcomed a narrow victory. -0- It was hoped by the home supporters that the second halt would see the Rhyl eleven outplayed. But exactly the reverse was the case. Morgan Owen was in great form and the rest of the forwards seemed to catch the infection from him. They played with a dash and skill that could not be resisted even by so formidable a defence a that which Wrexham possessed. Ten minutes from the resumption of play Morgan Owen placed his team ahead with a beauty, and a few minutes later Milne making one of his magnificent sprints, and beating all opposition added a fourth goal. Wrexham made herculean efforts after this to penetrate the Rhyl defence but it had long ago reoovered its steadiness and Arthur Lloyd and Vernon Jones were almost impassable. When they were beaten Ike Williams successfully accounted for all demands upon him. -0- Once and once only were Wrexham really dangerous and during that time they had the hardest of luck. So hard pressed were the Rhyl defence that Alf Gordon Jones fouled Ben Lewis in the 12 yards limit. It was a stupid and shady foul and no one will find fault with the referee for granting the penalty kick that ensued. Jardine was requisitioned from goal to send the ball to its distiis, tion. We, that is myself and the three others who formed the quartette, to which I shall presently refer gave Wrexham a goal for it. But lo and behold Ike Williams ran and met the ball and arrested it with his hand. It was a miraculous save and afforded the few Rhyl onlookers an opportunity of displaying their lung powers. The disappointment caused by failure to score from this penalty was the last straw, and when time was called Wrexham were a soundly thrashed and beaten team. -0- In criticising the players I purpose to depart somewhat from my usual custom which is to start with the goalkeeper. Morgan Owen stood so conspiciously out as the most brilliant player on the field that I must perforce dispose of him first. He has played many good games but certainly he has never displayed better form than he did at Wrex- ham on Saturday. To say he was the best man on the field is comparatively poor praise; many of the orowd asserted that he was the beat centre forward seen in Wrexham this season. That he will get his international cap this year again I should say is a certainity, if not the selection Committee will deliberately weaken the Welsh team. His brother as incide left was also a huge success;and shared in the honours of the victory. Milne might have done better. The way he scored the fourth goal convinc- ed me that he is capable of more brilliant things than we have yet seen from bim. Jack ithomas was in rattling trim. His centres were well timed and well judged and the corner kicks he took were beautifully placed. Hall played his usually safe and unselfish game he might however have been a little better fed. —o — The half backs did not impress me favourably at all. Alf Vaughan's right knee was bad and he used it very sparingly relying almost exclusively on his left foot. The result was that his play suffered by comparison with his previous performances. Alf Gordon Jones infused more physical vigour into his play than was absolutely necessary and an un- necessary number of fouls were consequently re- corded Mainst him. Tom Middleton was the best of the three half backs though I have seen him in better form. After the first quarter of an hour Arthur Lloyd and Vernon Jones played a champion game. They did not once make a mistake in the second half but resisted all the agressive advances of the opposing forwards with rare tact and certainty. Ike Williams asa goalkoeper turned out trumps. He has now boxed the compass and found his proper vocation. He was wretched as a centre forward worse as a half backs; immense as a full back, but he is superb as a goal keeper. On Saturday he effected many clever saves and is hardly to be blamed for either of the two goals which beat him. —o— I was much struck with the good humoured way in which the spectators took the defeat of their favourites. I got among a jolly set of fellows on the grand stand. They turned out to be the Wrexham Choir. They knew only one chorus, but they have rehearsed it, and perform it with so much precision that it has a telling effect. Some fifty or sixty of them assemble together and on the down beat they attack as one man the refrain" Play up Wrexham" finishing altogether on the up beat. The Commander in Ctihf of the Rhyl Lung Brigade and I were in the middle of this choir; and we thoughtwe would try a duett on the same lines. Accordingly we sang Play up Rhyl." Presently on the principal of the rolling stone we gathered some "Moss," and the duett became a trio; and a well know Rhyl tradesman who deserted his business for the time being swelled our ranks into a quartette, and we sang merrily the chorus "Play up Rhyl." At a meeting of the four held afterwards we unanimously resolved to form ourselves into a choir with power to add to our number ad libitum. The Commander in Chief of the Lung Brigade was appointed conductor, and all desirous of joining are requested to attend a preliminary reheasal on the football field quarter of an hour before the next home match. Members need not necessarily be able to read music, or even musically gifted. All the qualification essential is ample lung power. -0- Rhyl have no Combination fixture to-day; nor have they in fact next Saturday. But they had intended to play their Combination team against Carnarvon in the North Wales Coast League. Carnarvon, however, are unable to raise a team and the match is abandoned. The Reserves go to Colwyn Bay to play their junior cup tie. -0- Rhyl have signed Owen the celebrated Newton Heath right winger and will appear for Rhyl in the next match. They are also in negotiation with a 'Scotch International hall: back. AlfVaughan plays for Everton to-day against Preston North End at Goodison Park. —o— (aRYL F.C. V. TRAINING). I have received the following letter: Mr Chiel. DEAR SIB.-You will evidently agree with me that there is nothing like training to win:a football match, or in fact any other match. And now the Rhyl team h'ave made each a start in the new year beating one of the best teams on their own ground and scoring four goals against them, it first shows what the team can do when they try, also make their minds minds up to win it would pay the club to summons all the players to turn up for one good practise a week say Wednesday or Thursday even if they have to pay them for the time they loose, and surely with such men as Milne and Owen of Newton Heath in the team, they would be able to tell them the right way to go about it. For instancathis week there is not likely to be a match for the first team at Rhyl until the 28th when they Jmeetgthe famous Druids. To be without a game until then will indeed be tt great draw-back. I was at Chester a short time ago and was taking to Billy Lewis he was just troing for practise then. I think on a Monday after- noon. He said he would be fined unlesshe turned up, but if our men had only one good practise a week it would mean a lot of good, especially this month as it is almost a blank one since Bangor has to play their cup tie on the 21st instead of coming here. It would very likely go a long way if you were to mention a few of these particulars in your notes of this week, in fact I wish to ask you to do so and oblige.-YOurs truly. January 11th 1899. A Run SUPPOBXBS. FIXTURES FOB To. MORROW J Bangor v. Chirk, at Bangor. Buxton v, Wrexham, at Buxton. Druids v. Everton, at Ruabon. Garston Copper Works v. Chester, at Garston. Liverpool v. South Liverpool, at Anfield. Tranmere Rovers v. White Star Wanderers, at Tranmere.

FOOTBALL.

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