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1 10-DAY"S FOOTBALLI

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1 10-DAY"S FOOTBALLI Cardiff's Visit to 1 I Swansea. [ GREAT- STRUGGLE AT ( ST. HELEN'S The All Whites Preserve Their Record ) NEWPORT OPEN THEIR } SCOTTISH TOUR I League Match on Belle Vue Grounds. I Swansea v. Cardiff I [ (BY "FORWARD.") I The fears entertained concerning the I reather turning out unfavourable were, un- fortunately, realised, a small, drizzling rain falling ten minutes or so before the time arrived for the actual start to be made. This was, as all the worM knows, the second meeting this season of Swansea and Cardiff. The first match, at the Cardiff Arms Park, resulted in a victory for Swansea by the narrow majority of one try, and the impartial followers of the game considered that Cardiff to-day had at least a fitting chance. The inclemency of the weather was gene- rally regarded as an advantage to Cardiff, a slippery ground and a greasy ball being all against the prospects of Swansea, methods succeeding to the full. The question of the moment among the spectators, who numbered between 15,000 and 20,000, was, "Where will Timms play?" Gwyn Nicholls had the matter in his hands, and he decided that Timms should play in the centre. and that he (Nicholls) would p)ay on the wing. The teams were:- Cardiff: Back, H. B. Winfield; threc-cinarter backs, C. Biggs, R. T. Gabe, E. G. Nicholls. and A. B. Timms; half backs, R. David and Griff. Hughes; forwards (selected from), A. Brice, P.S. Smith, W. Neill, W. Ham, George Northmore, A. Spackman, E. Harding, Hutch- iners, and J. Brown. I I Swansea: Back, aeorge Davier,; three- quarter backs, W. Trew, W. Arnold, Dan Bees, and W. F. Jowett; half backs, R. Owen and R. Jones; forwards, W. Packer (captain), F. Serine, W. Joseph, 13. Bevan, D. J. Thomas, p. Daviee, A. Smith, and W. Coles. Referee: Mr. Lewis, Pontypridd. j PREVIOUS RECORDS. 1891. Swansea. Cardiff. Oct. 24 4 0 18 0 0 0 Nov. 28 0 0 0. 0 0 0 1332. Jan.23 2 1 12 0 0 0 Apr. 9 3 1 13 0 2 6 Oct. I 1 0 5. 0 0 0 Kov. 5 0 0 0 0 1 3 1393. Jan.28 2 0 10 0 1 3 Mar. 25 0 1 1 2 11 Nov 4 117 0 2 6 1894. Itar.2 0 0 0 1 2 11 Nor. 3 0 1 3. 2 2 15 1395. Mar. 2 I 1 0 4 0 2 6 1896. Feb. 1 1 1 7 1 1 8 Mar. 28 0 0 0. 0 2 6 7. 0 1 3 0 0 0 1897. Mar. 20 1 1 6 0 3 9 Apr. 3 1 1 8 3 2 CO Xov. S 0 3 9 1 0 5 16S3. Mar. 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kov.5 0 1 3 0 1 5 Mar. 4 1 0 5 1 0 5 1399. No\18 2 2 14 0 0 0 Feb. 10 3 1 16 0 0 0 1900. Oct. 17 3 1 18 0 0 0 1901. Mar.M. 3 1 14 1 l 8 Oct. 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 1902. Mar. 15 15 1 4 17 0 0 0 Oct. 25 2 4 22 0 0 0 1903. War. 28 0 0 0 1 0 5 Oct. 2t 0 1 3. 0 0 0 II SwallSDa. won fifteen matches, lost tea, aiid drawn I II THE GAME. wiaen me time came lor starting it was round that the estimated number present aentiaued in my introduction was rather oelow the mark, regular followers of the 6wansea team statng that the gate was the best of the season, and must have exceeded 20,COO. In the absence of 11. H Bowen, Mr. Lewis (Pontypridd) acted as referee. Timms played at right centre, with' Nicholls on his wing. Brice started for Cardiff, and after some exchanges on the part of the backs the ball t was sent to touch near the centre from a t kick by Winfieid. The leather came out from the first scrum to the Swansea halves, and was sent across to Trew on the left wing. Before he could get properly under weigh Nicholls tackled him finely, and prevented i him from passing.. Scrummaging was again the order, and the bail came out to the Swansea halves, but a knock on by Arnold spoiled the work of the three-quarters. Scrum- maging in the Cardiff twenty-five saw Dick Owen send the ball out to Jones, who broke through easily. Drawing Timms o nto him, Jones gave up to Arnold, with Trew in atten- dance. These two only had Nicholls to beat, ind a quick pass from Arnold to Trew did the trick, and the wing man went-bver with I TRY IN THE CORNER. I after five minutes' play. The kick at goal by George Davies was a miss. Play was slow for a couple of minutes after the kick-out, and then David got the ball from his forwards and beat Owen and Jones. He kicked up to George Davies, who made his mark just as he was being tackled by Cecil Biggs. The Cardiff men now returned to the home 25, where Timms, following-up in grand style. looked like putting George Davies into diffi- culties, but the Swansea custodian saved grandly and found touch on his own 25 line. The Cardiff forwards were now heeling out beautifully, and Nicholls, receiving from the halves, passed to Gabe. who turned on bis heel and thus got through, but before he could get into his stride he was tackled. The Cardiff forwards, though not too well sup- ported by their backs, were undaunted, and heeling out on the Swansea side to the centre line gave their halves a chance. David did I his work all right. but Hughs GAVE SUCH A WRETCHED PASS I that it could not be taken by his centre, and the result was that Swansea rushed down to the Cardiff goal-line. The visiting forwards cleared their line with a powerful rush, and Swansea were penalised for off-side play. The kick brought relief to tha.defepidinz side, and play for some time ruled in the home terri- tory. The Cardiff forwards continued to heel out nicely, but the backs could not get into their stride, and the Swan- sea defence was never seriously jeopardised. Passing between the Cardiff halves and Gabe, Timms. and Nicholls was not so effective, through being too mechanical, and no ground wgs gained. For not putting the ball in straight, Dicky Owen hah his side penalised, and twenty. vards of ground was gained by Winiield's kick. The Swansea three- quarters were next in possession, but thev found the Cardiff tackling so keen that they lost rather than made ground, Nicholls' tackling of Dan Rees being particularly fine. David was worrying Owens a good deal, and on one occasion beat him fairly and squarely at the base of the scrum. Nicholls. who was receiving more than necessary attention from Parker, had to retire for a couplo of minutes to change his nether garments. On his return, Cardiff, profiting by Willie Arnold mi..fielding the ball, got right on the Swan- sea line. Arnold relieved a moment later with a nice kick, but Cardiff were quickly on the line again, and Serine was brought out as A FIFTH THREE-QUARTER. I Gabe, on one occasion, just failed to break through fifteen yards from the line by knocking on in attempting to take the ball on the run. Cardiff came round at last with a long and persistent attack. Griff. Hughes, gptting the ball from David, ran round the blind side of the scrum and beating Trew a? Arnold very cleverly, passed at the riht moment to Gwyn Nicholls. who ran over after handing off George Davies. Winfield failed I with the kick, and half-time was called a few moments later. Half-time score. G. T. M. I Swansea 0 1 0 Cardiff 0 1 0 With a try each, it can be imagined what I excitement prevailed when Joseph re-started for Swansa. Winfield failed to find touch with his reply and Trew kicked out of bounds at the Cardiff 25 flag., Swansea became op-1 pressive, but Gwyn Nicholls fialded smartly and repulsed the attack with a neat screw kick to touch. Hutchings was now brought out of the blue and black pack as a fifth three-quarter, although this policy on the part of the Cardiff captain was not to be commended, seeing that the Swansea for- wards were well beaten. Winfield, who was playing a fine game for his side, was loudly cheered for his fine kicking. There did not seem to be the usual sting about the Swan- sea attack, their passing movements being nipped in the bud by the smartness of David. A grand run by Gabe over the oentre changed the position of things, but only for a moment. Trew broke away on the left wing until he was hedged in on the 25. He shot for a goal, but did not go near enough. The Swansea forwards were now heeling out better than they had hitherto done, but the passing was not so cleverly done, and, con- sequently, was not effective. Through some bad fielding by the Cardiff baoks Dick Jones had a lovely chance to add to the points, but he allowed himself to be taokled when he was practically stand- Ing still. A fine kick by Jowett touad touch on the Cardiff 26 line. The Swansea, forward, with a magnificent run, ran down some distance, and over-ran their opponents, and Griff. Hughes, getting off- side near his own 25. caused his side to bo penalised. Geo. Davies dropped for goal, but the ball went wide Swansea were attacking, when Gwyn Nicholle, after fumbling a little, kicked down to Ceo. Dnvies, who ran round into a position for a dropped goal, and one of the Swansea, forwards, who was off-si do, picked itup and ran over, but the try v. as disallowed. Play wae very easy for some time, and there did not seem any p-rospect I of there beiny any further scoring. Swansea were having rather the better of the fight, but they nearly gave the game away NY .i-ien they allowed Big.a-s to intercept one of their I 1<)O?s? passes. Bip-go ran up to Geo. Davies, and tried to pass him, but was just touched on the ankle, and this hroughy him down on the Swansea 25 line. Swansea got back to their old position in the Cardiff 25, and, Nicholls being slow in I fielding the ball the goal-line, Swansea almost got in. Winfield, however, just I managed to turn the ball into touch-in goal. Play was continued five yards from the Car- diff hne, and the excitement can bo imagined. Eventually the Cardiff forwards, with a bril- liant wheel, took the ban with them, and Gabe, picking up in the !oogp, mn strongly, and passed to Gwyn Nicholls, who was not I stopped until he had reached the Swansea. 25 line. Here David gave Hughes the ball, but the latter's pass to Nicholls was too low to I be taken, and Cardiff lost ground. Swansea having crossed the Cardiff 25 line, PLAYED TREMENDOUSLY HARD I for a win, and at last their passing came QW. Dick Jones, receiving from Owen, diddled Timms. and, running up to Winfield, passed to Scrinee, who simply had to run a few yards and fall over the line in the corner. Amid a scene of wild excitement, the try w-is allowed, and in the last minute of the game the kick at goal failed. Time was then called.. Final score. G. T. M. I Swansea 0 2 0 Cardiff 0 10 POINTS OF THE GAME I 3.3.—Nicholls led the Cardiff team on to the ground. 3.4.—Swansea followed into the arena from the opposite side 3.5.—Brice kicked off. 3.7.-Gii,yn Nichons beautifully tackled Trew. 3.8.—Trew scored in the left hand corner from a liais by Arnold. 3.9.—George Davies made a fine, but unsuc- cesetul effort to convert. 3.10.—Swansea passing resumed, but Jones was promptly held up. 3.12.-Cardiff got the ball from a scrum for the first time, David kicking to George Davies, who made his mark. 3.14.-David gave out a bad pass, and had to save by touch. 3.15.-Cai-d;ff came up with a rush on George Davies, but he saved brilliantly. 3.16.-Nicholls gained ten yards by kicking into touch. o ■ losing to Cecil Biggs was smothered. On resuming Owen was injured. 3.1P.-Cardiff passing went wrong, and Dan Rees with a screw kick to touch removed play some distance. 3.23.-C,ardiff forwards splendidly secured the ball in the scrimmage, but the passing was slow, and Dan Rees cave ,1 lot of trouble. 3.21.-Swansea. pressed, and on Cardiff kick- ing out, George Davies nearly dropped a goal. 3.21.-SwaniOea did better in the scrimmage, and the halves got the ball twice, but the three-quarters failed to get away. 3.35.—Gwyn Nicholls after being tackled went oft the field to change a. necessary garment. 3.37.—Arnold was tackled close to his goal- line. 3.41.—Gwyn Nicholls scored beautifully for Cardiff. 3.43.—Half-time score:—One try each. 3.45.—Joseph re-started the game for Swansea. 3.47.—Owen and Jones got off nicely, but Dan Rees was tackled, Nicholls kicking into touch. 3.49.->Cardiff were penalised for off-side half- back play, but the return was so poor that 110 advantage was gained. 3.51.-Swansea forwards played well and gained some ground. 3.53.—Timms and Nicholls, by passing, tried to out-manoeuvre Jowett and Jones. 3.54.—Swansea got off brilliantly, but Trew VicVed >'idi-v- across the Cardiff line 3.55.—Cardiff touched down. 4.0.-Swansea. got a beautiful chance, but Dick Jones threw wildly and spoilt it. 4.2.-Cardiff penalised: G. Davies missed the shot. 4.10.—Biggs got the ball cleverly, and made a. gallant dash, but was stopped by Davies and Rees. 4.11.-Winfield saved for Cardiff with a flying kick. 4.20—Serine scored for Swansea., and "Time" was called. I COMMENTS BY "FORWARD." Swansea people were agreeably surprised at the form shown by Cardiff. They never expected to see such a. magnificent and evenly-contested game. Cardiff were unlucky somewhat to lose in the last few seconds of the play, but, taking the second half on the whole, the balance of power was rather in favour ox the winners. As against this, how- ever, it must not be forgotten that Cardiff had much the better of the argument in the, first half, and one would be striking the point of extreme fairness in saying that a draw would not have been an iueqni table result. A more exciting finish has never been ueen in the long series of contests between Cardiff and Swansea. Almost everybody on the ground had given up hope of seeing anything but a, draw, and the circumetances; under which the winning points were obtained made the closing scene an intensely darm-atic one. Fortunately, the ground was not affeoted by the rain to any appreciable extent, and the game was played under entirely satisfactory, if not absolutely perfect, conditions'. Ram ceased to fall shortly after the start, and during the remainder of play there was no need for the services of the friendly "muah." From the first minnte to the last the play W-,X-, the very perfection of keenness, and occa- sionally it was positively brilliant. In no match this season have I eeen such a. great fight waged between two packs of forwards. and the great surprise fo the day was the remarkably fine form shown by the Cadriff eight, especially in the first half and during the opening stages of the second portion. Seeing that they were beating the Swansea eight in controlling the scrimmages and' in getting possession of the ball, I could not help thinking that it was mistaken policy to have brought out of the scrimmage a good man like Hutchings, and thus reduce very materially the strength of the team at the front, where they wete overpowering the "all whites." However, it is not for me to ques- tion the captaincy of an experienced and capable skipper like Gwyn Nicholls, and ho, doubtless. has reasons which I know not for doing what he did. Another surprise of the day was the clever, tricky play of Dick David at half. He was a, thorn in the fleah of his namesake Owen of that ilk right through the ^ame, and on more than one occasion he fairly and squarely beat him in getting the ball and giving it to his three-quarters. Griff. Hughes is deserving of the highest praise for the judgment and trickiness shown when he made it possible for Gwyn Nicholls to score, but, to lie ju--t all round, it must be said that he was ex- tremely at fault in the slovenly way in which he gave his passes. Except in the one instance referred to, he also failed to make a single opening, although he was oon- tinually receiving the ball from his partner, David. Dtiriner the greater of the flrtfc half Timms, if I might use a paradox, was not a Welsh three-quarter, and, though the statement may be a bold one to make. I do not think that his presence in the Cardiff three-quarter line has the slightest tendency to strengthen it. He ha.9 been accustomed all hifr ilfe to play a different stvle of game to that in vogue in this part of the country, and he could not any more than any other man in this world, I be expected to tumble to Welsh methods in one or two or twenty matches. He made a few powerful punts, but never got into proper working order [1", a component part of the back machinery of the Cardiff team when on the attack. In slaying this I would not have the defectiveness of the"half-back play overlooked. The Swansea, forwards, while clearly beaten in the first half and in the early stages of the second moiety, had the better of the argument in the last quarter of an hour or twenty minutes, their heeling boing almost unbroken in its regularity. Put their superiority during this stage was due, I believe, to the fact already mentioned, thrift Hutchings had been taken out of the pacit The three-quarter lines were well matched, taking their play all round, and the full-back play was of a splendid standard. A SWANSEA VIEW OF THE GAME. Expressing my own opinion (writes onr Swansea correspondent) I unhesitatingly say that the beat team won. Swansea lasted; t' better than Cardiff, as was chown by the fact that for the last 25 minutes they were engaged in endeavouring to pull the game out- of the fire, and prevent a dVaw being made, and the fact that they were successful in doing so proves that, having set their mindS" on it, they were the better team. They wanted a try badly, and by dint of perseverance they got it. During the first half Cardiff were ad- mittedly the better team, although Swansea by their trickery behind the scrimmage beh'nd the scrimmage managed to notch a try in the first few minutes; but for the rest of the half it must be admitted that the Ca"- diff forwards held a decided adavantage over the Swansea lot, and were able to give the ball out to their halves in the majority of occasions. At half-back during this half Cardiff quite broke down. The bail. although heeled out frequently got cleanly to tho three-quarter but very rarely, and. there- fore, the lutter had no chance against the keen tackling opposed to them. In the second half Swansea held the a-advantago rather more than Cardiff had held it in the first half. Directly the condition were thuu reversed, it. was seen that the Cardiff halves showed a disposition to get on ths wrong side of the scrimmage. The referee, who anted very impartially and carefully ail through, had to givet a couple of penalty kicks against the Cardiff half- backs From this time to the end of the game Swancea certainly had a. distinct ad. vantage, aud the tact that they scored a try at the very end showed how determined they can be when necessity arises. Comparing the differeat departments of the two teams, I should say that the Cardiff for- wards were much the better lot in the first half, but that they fell off in the second half, and allowed Swansea Rt least to do what they desired. Between the two sets of half- backs there was no comparison. The play of the Cardiff forwards gave the Swansea halves few chances in the first half, but in the second half the Cardiff couple had little to do but dance attendance on Owen and Jones, and the result of this was two or three unpleasant episodes. The forwards and halves towards the end fought a very bitter game, neither side giving or taking any quarter. At the end Swansea managed to notch another try, and thus pulled the game out of the fire. If it may be fairly said that Swansea were lucky In getting the last try, it inuat also be admitted the team lest a number of chances to score before they got it. The Cardiff three-quarters had few oppor- tunities of showing themselves off to advan- tage. Timme did scarcely anything. Gwyn Nicholls wad the hero of the Cardiff backs, and his try was a real beauty. For Swansea, George Davies again played a champion game, and Dan llees and Arnold were in ex- cellent form. Serines, Parker, Bevan, and Joaeph bore the brunt of the work of the for- wards, and Serines was not satisfied until he got over the line in the second half.

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