Evening Express

SOMETHING OF HOCKEY. I East Cardiff smarted the season, last Satur- day with a practice match at ilendaff Fields, and no fewer than 26-memlbws turned oat. As a large ■miim'ber of the players are new members, a thorough Wwai was given to aU of them. The committee should have no diffl- cisky in getting togetlber two strong teams, as several of the new men showed excellent form. Other new members who were not out last week will he Severn a trial to-day, after which both teaone start with matches. The club at. present is in a mast prosperous condition, a-nd the committee have decided on a team which will comprise a lot of the old hands, and will be known as the "Veterans' XI." The secretary ie at present endeavouring to arrange fixtures with aooond eterans iu the Cardiff district.

I Welshmen Up North.. BY OUR N.U. CORRESPONDENT. I The game between Warrington and St. Helens a.t Wilderspootl proved to. be a. brilliant display of football. The Warrington for- wards played in great style. O'Neill, the old Cardiff forward, was full of resource, and was the instigator of many a fine bit of play. O'Neill is grewt., at giving the dummy, and his opponentts rarely iniss taking it. G. Thomas and Shugars also showed up well, their bust- ling tactics doing a lot in upsetting the visitors' backs. Jack Jenkins is laid up with an injury, and hopes to be soon playing again. The match between Batley and Hunslet at Mount Pleasant was conspicuous by its keen- nes&. There was a total absence of good back play, which tended to make the game a monotonous one. The forwards on both 8ides played a strong game, with the honours slightly on the Batleyites. Will Davies made his appearance in the Batley side, but seemed to be out of condition, having put on a lot of weight during the close season. Hnnslet had hard lines in not winning in the last few minutes. Oldham were much too good for Bafflai at the Watersheddintgs on Saturday. The Thrum Hall team, who, it wiH be noticed, were without the services of Dai Thomas and Litt-le, their fine full back, were dis- organised. The Oldham forwards played a. fine game, and far Halifax Hilton, Eocles, Kiley, and Ward did well. Purniss also did pretty well at centre, but found the burly Oldham men a bit difficult to tackle. Wood, a.t full back for Oldham, played a faultless game. George Smith, tihe all black, has appa- rently lost none oi his speed, as he skipped around W. J, Williams for his two tries. McTley and Grahtree showed up well in the loose foir Halifax. Hull Kingston, who were unable to field a full side through injuries, were fairly beaten by Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue on Satur- day. The Rovers were un.f»rtnna<te to have | tooth half-backs, Barry and Lurmann, off through injuries. The Rovers forwards pla.yed a strong game, and the old Cardiff forward, A. Spaokman,. was ever to the fore, but with the backs disorganised they could not pierce the Trinity's defence. Thomas and Hugibes played well, and Sandham who was put in the three-quarter line, was not a success. Salford put up a hard fight with Wigan at Central Park last Saturday, and came into eeoring form just a bit too late. Jenkins and Thomas did well for the home team, and showed a glimpse of their old form. Howell Francis, who on the retirement of Millar through injury was relegated to the wing position, played like a bom three-quarter, and the absence of Millar was scarcely felt. For Salford the forwards played a rare bustling game, and E. J. Thomas, Dai Bees, and BucVrl«r wpre always in the eye. Sid Ajdlpra*, the ,I Newport on i an, played a strong', tlashririGr game, and gave his would-be taoklers a taste of his strength. He looks like bein^- the best centre for the Reds pince Tom Williams, the old l.liwynvnia centre, played for them. Jchn, at full-back, gave his usual, good display, and he is about, the trickiest full-back in the union. W. Thomas, the old Ab ravon j-layer, w-ag effective at centre, and scored a nice try. Salfcrd always put up a good fight at Central Park. The Northern Union game has had a ip Leoeds owing to the success of the Rc-adi*ley teim. and a very large crowd aas??iM?d to wi' '0 the match against HuddersBetd. A TEOstex??ing match finished with the Partowji Í>(',a;m winning by one. point. The Leeds forwards held the upper hand, and their efforts deserved a vic- tory. Reg Jones, who was oppesed by Jim Davies, gave a good display, and it was a battle royal between the two. with honours equally distributed. Frank Young marred a. good display by a mistake in the early portion of the game. Which resulted in a try to Rosen-felt, of Huddersfield. Saunders, at half for Leeds, played a very gocd g-ame, and it seems likely he will develop into a good player for the Heading-lev Ciub. The match was one of the-most exciting ever seen on the ground. Only a fine goal from half-way on the call of time by Wrigley gave Uuddersfieid the victory by a single point. The Far town team can be safely regarded as the coming Yorkshire team, a position which has been held by Halifax for a good number of years, but, with dissension in the camp of the Thrum Hall team, thereby depriving the team of some of their best players, the Far- town club ia just now about the 'best side in Yorkshire. Bronghtom Eangers played a. very poor game against Ebbw Vale, and it looks as if the famous team is going to have a bad season. It is but a few seasons back they possessed the finest team in the union, and were noted for t,heir back play. Against E-bbw Vale they played a scrambling sort of a game, and the only feature of their play was the fine play of Ruddick, the Welshman being always to the fore. Hogg and Hardy- man for the Range, seemed to be out of condition. Ebbw Vale played a tiresome game, but one has to say they were a very moderate side. Perhaps the long journey accounted for this. Burgham, in the for- wards, was their best man, and "Chick" Jenkins did good work. Dan Davies, although playing forward for the Swinton team, ran in four tries against Rochdale Hornets last Saturday. He is very fast, and just the type of forward wanted in the Northern Union game. Davies, who hails from Llanelly, is the brother of Dai Davies, the famous half-back, who threw in his lot with. Bolton Soccer Club as goal- keeper. Gordon Thomas, a;t f-ull,back for the Lions, did fairly well, but is short of a bit of weight to meet some of the burly Northern Union team.

ED. JONES, j who swam a mile at the Cardiff Baths (88 lengths of the ba;tb) in Ihr. 2mm, JAMES FARR. I who followed Jones, with the mile in 551 1-6min. I These are the first Cardiff schoolboys to attempt this swim, a.nd both belong to Conrt- road Boys Soibootl. lir. DumtneL, the manager of the baths, obtained a medal each for the boys. PootibatLl Express" Photos. I

'PERCY ECCLES is regarded as one of the v?ry Sneat wings in the union. He has p?ayfd for Yorkshire aud En?-t?nd. and has demonstrated in three maAchee that, he is a very dangerous wring, He posseesses a very dangerous swerve, and is very difficult to tackle, and, campled with his fine turn of Fpeed, makes it very awkward for a defender to taokle. lie is a prolific scorer. fPhoto, Livermore. Halifax. and was only one behind Dai Thomas's number in being the scorer of the greatest number of tries that season. Last season he played for the Bradford Park Avenue Soccer club, but was not a success a.t the gamo. and this season signed on for his old £ o*e, aid has already shown he baa lost little, if any, of his old-time cleverness. Besides being1 a clever footballer, he is a noted singer, having won many prizes. Standing 5ft. 6in., he weighs about lOst.. and what he lacks in weight he makes up for in cleverness. Percy, as he is familiarly called, has hosts of friends in Halifax, who watch his career with interkse interest.

DAN LEWIS (Merthyr Northern Union) com- menced his football career by playing for Cyfarthfa Juniors. He then played for the M-erthyr Amateur Club. Since joining the I Merthyr Northern Union Club he has always been a consistent player. He in- tends going strong for his cap this season. He is 22 years of age, 5ft. 9in. in height, and weighs 13st. 21b.

eA t4 Va4 Besides the Fixture Lists of ail the £ prominent Rugby and Aasooiatton Clubs, the N | WESrrERN MAIL S FOOTBALL ANNUAL | j « contains a Series of Brilliant Arttoies. <7 W Hr. Percy Bueti wittM ot Wily Footballer* wve Football." Mx. Ii, T. tiabe expatiates upon My Most £ Memorable Game." A ? lir. George 2dercer has am ..article on the Association dame, beaded, The Future A) N Is Before Us." « A further and moet remarkable artit cle ? appeu. by a -'l-«-n SwaMsea?te, in A wMch be ttM? the tee?ta of the » 2 MM?ed by the SwttM? Team duin¡ U? 0 T 1It tw9W 7-M ? BUY IT! BUY 1T1 W* 1X1 0 d ? PPtOI ONE MM* f

HAIL, "CARD I FF CITY"I First-class Soccer for Welsh Metropolis. THE OUTLOOK FOR 1911-12. [By II SOCCERITE.") The Football Season 1911--12, two years* hence, will be a notable one in the history of the Association Code in Cardiff. The talking and writing stage is about finished, and a practical move is being made in the direction of something tangible being done. The success of the Merthyr, Ton Pentre, and Aberdare clubs has not been lost on the Welsh Metropolis, and Soccer enthusiasts in Cardiff can be happy in the knowledge that ere long; the ideas and suggestions whkh have been too long in the air will be matured, and a Cardiff City club meeting the ibest of the Southern League teams in games that will attract gates as big as any that assemble on ordinary occasions on Cardiff Arms Park. Our inactivity in the City is the talk of the Association world. From Bristol, Norwich, Birmingham, Leeds, and Hull I have had letters commenting on the advanoe of the Footer Code in the Valleys, and inquiring as to the reason of Cardiff's inertia. THE GROUND DIFFICULTY. The ground difficulty has been one of great ooncern locally, but. I am afraid there has been too much looking round for & ground in the heart of the oity. In nea,rl.y every football centre a tram journey is necessary to reach the football ground, and so it will be in Cardiff. I am in a position to my that the ground trouble is about. ended. An enclosure will be at the disposal' of the new club which has been pronounced iby one of the keenest experts in league foot- ball as "fit for anything." j THE WAY OUT. "How is the new dab to be started, and who will be the players?" will naturally arise in most minde. The new club will a.rise from the present Cardiff City club, and I appeal to local supporters of the code to rally to the help of the City club. At the right, moment the whole matter will develop, and, in the meantime, the objective will be assisted by a strong support of the local club. Money will be needed, and it will be forthcoming. fjord Ninien Stuart has made a tentative promise to help in the matter, and I have no fear that finance will be a stumbling block. The present City club will enter the Saut-hern League Division II., land right 'through to Division 1. As the club pro- gresses, so will the players and the quality of the play. Personally, I see no reason at the opportune time, why some of the good men of the big clubs who are now wasted should not be used. Free transfers are pos- sibilities, as in the case of Freeman (Kver- ton), who had a free transfer to Woolwich. Ast-on Villa have a superfluity of players, so have West. Bromwich Albion. The material can be drawn from quite easily. I hope t? announce before this -?eason ends a meet- ing in connection with the movement, at whkh leading lights of the league will pro- bably attend. With this end in view, I invite every Soc- cerite who is interested to be prepared to | throw in his lot at the time. Rugbyites need not be alarmed, as home and away matches could easily be arranged so -as not to clash by judicious management. I repeat thast "Cardiff City" is the medium, and the goal will be achieved the sooner by watching and supporting the present team. II THE CALL TO ARMS." The above announcement (writes "Swift- pure") will be received in South Wales witft gratification. Our apparent indifference to the suggestions which have been made from time to time has been simply 13,ck of initia- tive. Opinions which I have received from some of our leftdiug Soccer followers-and. indeed, many piayers-prove conclusively that when the Cardiff City Club steps out to pro- claim its new move it will not be a small voice in the wilderness crying to its own echo. but rather like the call to arms of the gallant leader. Boccerism in South Wales has been waiting for such a call, and when it comes the Citizens will 'not only be sure of the neceesary local support, but they will have at their elbow the good advice and the as- sistance of the Southern League. Wtt?f "Socoedte" I w?U shout, "lIaA C*rdijt City l'-

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UNWORKABLE PLAN. I OTHER SIDE WOULD WRECK IT I By J. L. WILLIAMS, CAPTAIX OF CARDIFF FIRST XV. The idea of the Rugby full-back taking part in attack, set forth by Mr Laurence Woodhouse in the "Daily Mail," conse- quent upon his talk with Dr. Moran— last year's Australian skippox (and which 'Were re-produced in the Football Express" of Saturday last)—opens out father an interesting topic for discus- sion. E. J. Jackett. apparently, favours the adoption of the principle advocated, and Promises himself the pleasure of experi- menting for Leicester upon the first Opportunity. On the other hand, Gwyn Nicholls (vide the same paper of Wed- nesday last) states that he does not think the notion can be put to practical use in the plan of campaign outlined, and adds the indisputable fact that if a movement is executed by the three-quarters smartly enough to have any sting in it, the full- back would have no earthly chance of getting into line unless able to concede ten yards in forty to his three-quarters. A reference, to the accompanying diagram proves the truth of the statement. To allow room for the movement sug- gested, in which six passes are given and deceived, the scrimmage must be near the centre line. The full-back will be 25 yards in the rear. To make sure the Movement is properly initiated, he must stay there until the outside half is run- ning with the ball. By the time he has digested that fact the three-quarters are going at top speed, and three transfers only take place prior to his receiving the ball 50 yards ahead of where it left the "scrum," or 75 yards from his original Position. He, therefore, has to travel 75 Yards, whilst the centre "three" covers 60-ratber a task even for a speedy man,, and Gwyn Nichollp, therefore- puts the i comparative speeds at a low estimate. I Then what about the opposition ? Presumably, there is to be a defending; side on the field. Will they be content as spectators only ? Will the backs simply! look on and the forwards continue to hang their heads in the scrimmage? Allowing the opposition to be alert, how often is a centre, or any other player for that matter, allowed to be up to take a re-pass? Let the spectator watch for this when next looking on. When he (the passer) should be awaiting the re- pass, according to this Little Theoretical Scheme, he would in actual life be picking himself up, or would have been so slowed down by hie. attentive adversary that his posi- tion for again receiving the ball would be hopeless. Again, supposing for a moment that the "centre" portion of the machinery performs its function "as advertised," and that the full-back is a real flyer, can he go full speed along the edge of the "scrum," which is now breaking up, to find his allotted position? Of this there is much doubt, as anyone with play- ing experience will tell you this is gener- ally a very thickly-populated part of the globe. In this plan, in which the re-pass (not the REVERSE pass-an entirely dif- ferent thing) is the chief essential, and the scoring is to be done on the wing from which the movement developed, the only possible chance the full-back has of participating is by standing near the scrimmage—thus disregarding his defen- sive obligations—and running up the "blind side" as soon as the ball is heeled. Even then he will probably find that nineteen out of every twenty attempts are fruitless, as one of the six passes arranged for will be upset by the unkind opposition. Whilst contending that the scheme here foreshadowed Is Unworkable. I do not deny that a full-back should take part in passing attack when the rare opportunity occurs, but I contend that this opportunity cannot be made by a pre-arranged plai i, except against the very weakest opposition. A chance may come along when a strong wind assists the attacking side and the full-back is justified in leaving his place, in which event his best chance of success in participating in passing attack would be to wait on the wing towards which the ball is being handled, and receive from the wing man when the latter's progress is impeded. It is quite evident that Dr. Moran's idea is to find move work for the full- back, and not to add an extra man to the attacking party of three-quarters, for if his idea is to assist the latter in their work, why not let the man told off to be a forward or a half-back, who- could start off the same mark and not weaken the defence by so doing. There would in this case be no need to send a man back to re-place the full- back, and only one man would be out of his position, instead of two as would happen if his suggestion of sending back a forward to cover the "full" were carried out. He, according to the Press, asserts that the full-back is now wasted in attack. But is this so? How often in Cardiff have we seen quite the reverse when on our opponents' line with Win- field behind us "as safe as a house" driv- ing the ball back to the corner repeatedly until the opposition is pierced. Again, when attacking many a time has a bout of passing been commenced by H.B. after fielding a kick in the open, running on instead of kicking, and

SCHOOLBOY SPORTS WINNERS: COURT-ROAD, CARDIFF. Top itow:-I.,en Webber (6th 220 yaaxls -12), W. Storer (2nd Obstacle), Slid Brown (5 th 100 yards 11-12), Reg. Warwick (6th 220 j $mrcla -12). ^ar^d<LLe )'lkwW. Harris (1st Three-legged), A. Smith (3rd aw yards 12—13), R. Gape (4th 100 yar& 1&-U) And 3Pd 220 yards —1?). W. Faulkner (1st Three-legged and 5th 220 yards -12). Don Richards (4th 100 yards 9—10 and 3rd 230 yards —12). Bottom Row:-A. Thomas (7th 220 yards), G. Bruaas (5th 220 yaids 13-15), W- Higginson (2nd 220 yards 13—15 and 2nd Hordlee), W. Price (5tili. Obstacle). L"-Football Express" photos.

THE FULL-BACK IN ATTACK Gwyn Niohoili's has written Mr. W-ocdhouse respecting the latter's suggestion of the full- back atitadk, and in the course of his letter says:— i'" I do not think the idea could be in- eluded in a, plan of campaign. A remote chance or two might occur during a ea- men where a full-back might get up to take a. reversepas-s in an attack that started anywhere near mid field, but I do not think it could be prearranged. If the movement is executed 'by the three-quarters smartly enough to have any sting in it he would have no earthly chance of getting into line unless able to concede about 10 yards in 40 to his three-quarters. Mr. Nichclls doubts, too, if a forward could get away in time, to full-back's posi- tion, and suggests that if a. team has a for- ward cf the calibre of Richards (of the Wallaby teum) be sh-ould. link up with the three-quarters. He further adds that he has always been of the opinion that- the full-back should occasionally take a hand in att.a.ck when near the opponents' line, and that he is often in a position to initiate a combined movement, after which he should drop back to his position again.

 EIGHT HOURS ACT AND I FOOTBALL I 1,ATF, By FRED HONEY, LATE CiiAIEJUX POXTLOTTY.NT RUGBY OLUB. I read the views of several of your correspondents in reference to the above in last week's Football' Express." I note Mr. Rees Jones, the respected secre- tary of the Rhymney Valley League, is of the opinion that, on the whole, we may expect some advantages. I cannot see where they are likely to arise. Mr. Jones is certainly straying from the point, and I t,hink portions of his letter contain misleading statements. For instance, he says, all colliers are out of t.he pit at two p.m." This is wrong. No collieries commence raising men until one minute to two, therefore, those whose work is some distance from their home cannot have their food and bath and be on the field by 2.45 p.m., the recognised time for the kick-off during the short days. Supposing the players lose a day's work for an away match, the spectators cannot possibly be as numerous as they were previous to the Act. Mr. Jones need not go further than Rhymney to have confirmation of my views in this respect, as lie knows the majority of workmen living at Rhymney are employed at Pontlottyn pits, ¥1d are conveyed to and fro by the workmen's train, and this train does not rea-eh the top end of Rhymney until 2.45 p.m. Previous to the Eight Hours Act it was the custom on Saturdays to allow foot- ballers to come up the pit at twelve. As Mr. Jones knows, the Act does not allow this. In reference to the last paragraph re mid-week matches—in the middle of the season when the days are short—the same thing applies. Spectators will not be able to put in an appearance, and without these no football team can sur- vive, and, on the whole, the new Act must have a detrimental effeet upon the winter pastime. Mr. FRED HONEY, chairman of Pontlotityn Rugby Team last sea-son, dates 'his connec- tion wi-th football to some twelve years ago, when he organised a Rugby team at Pon tlot-tyn. He thoroughly understands I [Photo, Arthur E. Smith, Cardiff. I the laws of the game, and although he has ? never passed for a referee, his &ervioe?s are often sought at charity matches. Mr. Roney has been in F Company of the Tre- degar Volunteers (now Territorials) for many years, and has gained the rank of Bergeant.

COURT-ROAD BOYS' RUGBY TEAM AND RESERVES FOR 1909-10. COURT-ROAD BOYSI RUGBY TEAM AND RESERVES FOR 1909-10. WiMiara laafc- year of the "Evening. Express" Shield. outhe left ia Mr. H. Eyre; oemfcre, vith oaip on. is MT. TTowwtbe. and on the right Mx.01d, vrho-were all instrameantal I v in the training of the boys. r." wapress" photos. _.J

THE KIDNEY PUNCH & SOME OTHERS FAMOUS BOXER DESCRIBES TELLING BLOWS j BY FJRED WELSH. I have been charged with originating the kidney punch. I shall have to forego whatever glory may lie in having done so. I have occasionally made an effective use of it, but I did not originate it. Who first thought of it I don't know, but it would seem to me that it must have sug- gested itself to the first boxer who found his opponent clinging to him and holding unfairly. I know that I always make the most effective use of It with an opponent who gets close to me and holds my left hand. He almost invariably invites the kidney punch by bisown act; fpr while lie is busy with my left, I disengage my right, and there is his poor kidney waiting for the blow. I have noticed that that punch invariably brings a roar of merriment from the spectators. I don't understand why, unless it is because it may at the 1 first seem one of these ineffective or purely spectacular punches that some boxers indulge themselves in. I have also noticed, however, that after a while j the spectators show their appreciation of the punch, as well as their sympathy for the punche, by a harmonious groan when- ever it is delivered. And that is as it I should be; for it is a terrible punch when repeated through a number of rounds. I re-call distinctly how Young Josephs shrank from the punch when he felt it coming. it is never a knock-out blow in the the kidney punch, however, in a six or even ten round bout. If the opportunity presents itself to deliver the blow in a short contest there is no harm in doing 'I so, but it is a waste of energy to try to make the opportunity unless one has at least fifteen rounds before him, or unless j one's opponent is of te sort who, by his tactics, seems to be demanding just that blow. XL is never a knock-out blow in the sense that one punch in the kidneys, no matter how well placed will render a man insensible. On the contrary, it is seldom, if ever, that any one of the first few blows is very much felt. In the end a man may! sing under the continued kidney punch as he will under the heart or the stomach punch when repeated over and over. Anyone who saw my contest with Joe Fletcher will, no doubt, remember that he went down finally under the kidney punch, accelerated probably by a blow on the back of the neck. It was the kidney punch, however, that exnausted him. It was that punch, too, that exhausted Young Josephs, and would have made the knock-out easy if the' contest had con- tinued one or two rounds longer. When I Boxed Henri Piet at Mountain Ash recently I tried him with the kidney punch. I tried only once, however, when I discovered that he knew the guard. If, as I am told, his teacher was Frank Erne, I am quite able to understand how he came to know the guard, for Frank Erne, who has been a i boxing instructor in Paris for a long time, is too clever not to have discovered the guard at once. I have been informed, but I do not know how correctly, that a friend of Piet's saw my contest with Josephs, and told of the effects of the kidney punch on the rugged Hebrew, and that this led to Piet's inquiring of Erne for an antidote. Anyhow, the guard was I perfect, and I at once turned my atten- tion to Piet's stomach. I I have been told that the legitimacy I of the kidney punch has been questioned. j It would be absurd to questi-on it, and I I doubt if anyone of authority has done so. I The blow is struck with the clenched fist, the padded knuckles being the part of the hand that touches in the impact. The ¡ solar plexus blow was once declared foul. j Any new blow is at once questioned by j the recipient if it is an effective one. I think it was in the fight between Bob Fitzsimmoi*s and Tom Sharkey that tne solar plexus blow was declared foul. Fitz- simmons did not originate the blow, but no one ever made such a splendid use of it as he did. It is not an easy blow to deliver, for one must be almost unerring in its use to make it serve. The solar plexusi or "mark," is, roughly speaking, a nerve centre, situated immediately below the sternum—the small bone lying between the ribs in front of the body. It is a spot not difficult to protect, and not easv to reach when -unprotected. Fitzsimmons was a most clever boxer, with a phenomenal punch—a combination essential to one who would Reach the Solar Plexus i by intention. I may say, also. ciiat it was easier to deliver the blow in his day— short a time ago as that was—than it is now, when every good boxer protects that vulnerable spot mechanically. It is sel- dom that one hears in these days of a man going down and out from a solar plexus blow, but tney do go down and out from it, nevertheless. When Fitz- simmons drove it in on narkey, and that phenomenally powerful and ragged tighter sank under it, the story is that the referee cried Foul," and gave the fight to Sharkey, while at the same time snatching two revolvers from his pockets and leaping out of the ring. To the casual observer it would seem that the referee had expected to meet the neces- sity of defending his decision. At any rate, it is now universally understood that the solar plexus blow is as fair a one as can be struck. Unlike the blow on the point of the jaw, which renders the recipient unconscious,, the solar plexus blow practically paralyses j the person who receives it. and at ctie same time causes the most exquisite agony. Men who have been counted out as a result of this blow declare themselves j to have been in the full possession of FREDDIE WELSH [Photo, Dingman Studio. their faculties, to have been conscious of I the counting of those terrible seconds, and to have been joking positively appal-I ling efforts to rise, all the while seeming unconscious to persons at a distance, though to them who were near the rlespair and agony of the fleeting seconds tvere apparent in the anguished eyes of the defeated gladiators. As distinguished from this bitter con- sciousness of defeat, the insensibility of the man knocked out by a blow on the chin must be considered merciful, if not even delightful. A quick, snappy blow on the right spot on the chin is not even painful. Not only does unconsciousness come at once, but if men are to be be- lieved who have experienced the sensa- tion, it is accompanied by the most agree- able delusions. Some men tell of hearing sweet-toned bells rin?in?. others c)f sud-I denly becoming aware of entrancing music. Nevertheless, I know of no man who has courted a second knock-out for the mere delight of it. I have never been knocked out myself, and am not public 'spirited-enough to put myseli in the way of the experience for the sake of bearing I •witness to the delights of it. I The Pivot Blow I ? occupied a g"'et deal of attention at one time. It wns in no sense a punch, and! has been properly barred, according to my judgment. As everybody probably knows. it was delivered by whirling the body around as if the feet were a pivot, the arm extended. The impetus was so great that if the blow reached the right spot a knock-out was inevitable. One of the j difficulties of the blow was that the striker could not gauge His distance well, and was as likely as ii to strike with the heel of the hand. or even with the elbow. But in any case, as I have said, it was not a fair punch, and has rightly been barred. The pivot blow, however, is not to be confounded with a perfectly legitimate blow which may. perhaps, have a super- ficial resemblance to it, though I do not think it has even that. It is what may be called the double or return punch, and is a very effective punch, indeed, in fh* iire of one who v- -PCT, etired it. I have more than once knocked a man out bv its means. It consists in missing (sometimes purposely) a right or left honk or swing/thus inducing your opponent to lunge toward you to take-advantage <vf-a seeming opening, and then to suddenly bring your fist back to the point of the chin. 'In this way a double effect of force is obtained, your own blow is not only under full control, but has all the i impetus which the swing of your body radds to it. and. at the same time, youf opponent has come forward with all his power to meet your blow. This is not merely a legitimate blow it is much more—it is one of the Most Artistic of Punches. It. is delivered with the padded part of the glove,, it is made possible by a deliberate femt, it takes ad\antage of the movement of your opponent to add to its danger, it cannot be accidental, but must be studied and nnd,¡;r full control and the utmost coolness, deliberation, and yet swiftness must attend its delivery. Moreover, one must be sure of his feet to attempt this blow. Let you: feet be slow to obey, or clumsy in obey- ing, and disaster will attend it. This blow was once questioned by a boxing expert, who is at the same time a famous referee and one of the most erudite sporting editors in England, When I demonstrated it to him-in # perfectly friendly and theoretical way, << course-he accepted it at once as 1(,gji mate in every particular. And no othtfj conclusion has ever been reached by an| student of the art of boxing to whom < has been referred and demonstrated. The liver blow has no especial value. though much has been claimed for it a one time and another. It has been given some very fanciful names, too, oy boxers who have believed it to be more effects than it as ever seemed to me to be. It is a good blow to have in one's repertoire, or perhaps, arsenal would be a better word under t,he circumstances. I have found, however, that not many different blows are often used in any one contest. As a rule, a man is open to attack in certain places. Some men who are not good boxers yet have a natural ddpllce for certain spots where one would like to place his punches. In such cases it is idl to try to make him uncover systematically. Rather discover his weak places, and then keep at them. After a. while he will either uncover some spot where lie is vulnerable, or he will suc- cumb to the constant succession -of blows on spots yon have chosen for convenience. The case of the very clever boxer is not so very different. He covers by his skill and address, but even he will be found to have an open place somewhere. The thing is to find it. I re-call that it was a great surprise to me that so clever a man as Abe Attell let me hit him ine kidney blow so often, that one of the accounts of the fight said afterw ards that the famous little Hebrew thought that everybody in the hall was pounding I him there. As a rule, f A Spectacular Biow does not amount to much, and in the end will be found more interesting, or even funny, than effective. This is the ease with the blow known in America as the ci loop-t-he-loop." It is commba enough. not to need much description. It con- sists in stooping when in a clinch, and reaching between the two bodies so far as to be able to administer a blow on the side of your opponent's face furthest from the hand you hit with. A laugh from the spectators is usua lly, if not always, the only reward one has for the blow, but there seems to be something attractive in it, for it is usually seen at o least once in a contest, particularly when the boxers are of the ineffective sort. Still, I don't mind admitting that I do it once in a while myself. My excuse is that it sometimes gratifies my sense of humour, and that is a very good thing to keep in working order during the I strenuous work of a serious contest.

"SHAMATEURISM DANGER I I By ARTHUR FRANCIS. I (HON, SEC., CAESPHXLLY B.C.) I In last Saturday's Football Express Mr. Rees Jones (secetary of the Rhvm- ney Valley League) and Messrs. Ellis and Jones, my contemporary secretaries in the Rhymney Valley, expressed their opinions on the working of the Eight Hours in mines and its effects on football, and each accused Forward" of being too pessimistic and anxious to foster Northern Unionism. If Mr. Rees Jones intended his remarks to apply to the whole valley, including Caerphilly, the oldest and only directlv affiliated to the Welsh Union club therein, his statements are misleading, and he might justly be accused of being too optimistic, and speaking without know- ledge of conditions in the lower part of the valley, including Machen, Bedwas, and Caerphilly. Unless some amendment is made or some arrangement is come to with the colliery managers, Caerphilly is likely to be badly hit by the Act. The miners have to go by train to their work and do not reach home until after three o'clock, which makes it just possible for home matches to be played short time, but quite impossible to get anything like a repre- sentative team to away matches in the winter months. Recognising how impossible it is to ful- fil away fixtures, my committee have had to give up all fixtures outside the valley, which in itself means a great loss. In conclusion, I may add that I hope "Forward" will continue to agitate for an amendment' in the Act to enable miners to have a free Saturday afternoon for recreation, as teams like Caerphilly, with most of its players married, cannot afford to lose time for play, which in foot- ball circles, even in this valley, leads to shamateurism."

I E3BW VALE. Ebbw Vale did net do badly to run BrSughton Rangers to seven points. The different accounts of the match agree that the margin would have been reduced h.ad the Velians put a better finish to some of their best movements. During the month of October the Valians will be engaged in six matches. The Eight Hours Act .is responsible f.or this. As work a,t the pits finishes at two o'clock, Mondays Il3.nQ Wednesdays are almost as good as Saturdays. The only difficulty will be when the kick-off is fixed for an early hour.

a score has resulted. Mr. Laurence Woodhonse says he would like to hi?, suggestion carried into effect by a nrst- class Welsh club. I am afraid his. wish I will not be gratified when the contest is between two Welsh sides. It is practically impossible, with l reasonable oppositton to contend with, to carry out a pre-arranged combined scheme with many details. Movements on the field must be evolved as the oppor- tunities offer during the game, and their execution, although apparently perfected in practice, assumes a more difficult aspect when opposition has to be encountered.