Evening Express

AT PALMER'S SALE SUITS To Measure, ??A- Every Order receives the same care and ffl ?L ?y  attention as if you were paying full price. ???? ???' 64, 66. QUEEN-STREET, CARDIFF. I

i I AT PALMER'S SALE I SUITS To Measure O A Every Or&r -receives the same care and ?m ?L???? attention as if you were paying full price. I 64. 66. QUEEN-STREET, CARDIFF.

TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY. How Clubs Should Treat Players. I By J. L. WILLIAMS I (CAPTAIN CARDIFF FIRST XV.). I T is remarkable how feiv t clubs, old established and of high standing in the Rugby world, have up to the present time provided themselves with the pre- mises essential to. the I Proper accommodation ot their own ana visiting players and the administration of the club's affairs. In judging clubs by the high standard set up at Leicester, and described in the last "Football Express"—which, after; all, is only a reasonable one in cornice- tion with our national winter game—I am afraid more than 90 per cent. would be found wanting in many respects. The comparison, also, would be with a club which for a long period has had to contend against the powerful influences of a strong Association club, viz., Let-; tester Fosse (promoted to' the First Divi- I xiou League last season); so that its, state of efficiency has not been reached without stronuous efforts; but the, present condition fully justifies those exertions, and should act as a great stimulus to clubs which have embarked on the policy of providing their own head- quarters. With the exception of Newport, Swan- sea, Cardiff, and, possibly, Pontypool, I know of no clubs in Wales able to boast of dressing and training rooms in connec- tion with their grounds. Of these only Newport and Cardiff have large pavilions at the players' disposal. In looking around at the other clubs, we find at Neath, as at Llanelly. the sheltered accommoda,tion on ,the ground is practi- cally nil. At the former a considerable distance has to be got over from the hotel headquarters to the ground, whilst the distance from the Stepney Arms at j Llanelly to the "classic slope" seems greater still. Aberavon and Penarrth" are not more favoured, and the "hill" clubs; are in a similar position. j In regard to some of the English clubs, | Bristol, Gloucester, and Blackheath, in addition to Leicester, are well equipped, the former being fortunate in having the use of the County Cricket Club's build- ings. Gloucester's accommodation is of recent date, but, in addition to dressing and committee rooms, they have pro- vided a good-sized hall for ball practice. Plymouth's accommodation, unless re- cently improved, is rather crude; whilst at the Devonport ground no provision for changing is made, and the drive from t the Duke of Cornwall Hotel is quite long enough on a wet day. Moseley ranks with Devonport. I For International Matches I at Dublin and Edinburgh the Welsh, team I arrange their toilet at the hotel, and have a drive of a couple or more miles to the field of play. At Twickenham the Rugby Union are I reputed to have been rather thoughtful I in their arrangements for players, but not for reporters. The desire to possess rooms for chang- ing and committee meetings adjacent to the ground is one of the most laudable that can stimulate any club with an ambition to improve its standing in the football world. j It is surprising that so many clubs are j still without them, seeing how beneficial they must be to home players and com- mittee as well as to visitors. This i remark applies especially to Wales, where it has always been recognised that a team's combination is the chief factor in its success. It is admitted that t'he financial difficulty may be hard to nego- tiate but many instances of the provi- sion of cricket club pavilions can be instanced where by collective effort the self-same obstacle has been brushed aside. Again, it is recognised that junior clubs in towns would find it next to impossible to each provide the necessary rcoms on or adjacent to the grounds on which they usually play, but possibly by co-opera- I tion much could be accomplished to their general benefit. There is, however, nothing to prevent village clubs keeping the object well before them and working with the desire of realising it in the near future and securing a lasting benefit.

ASSOCIATION CODE. Stimulating Recognition A DISAPPOINTING CUP TIE AT MERTHYR. COULD hardly believe my own eyes last week, when I looked over my copy of the "Athletic News." Was I dreaming, or did I really see there in plain print, a very complimentary refer- ence to the status of the code in South Wales? It was almost too good to be true- its appearance, I mean. For .L-- '1-1'o. "1C!1'11'" years 1, anki many omens too, uavo auiiuu-j looked for this recognition of OUT existence in that widely-read paper's "Notes from South Wales." True, the last year or so we have been treated to an odd line or two giving the bare result of two or three matches, which, however well meant, only Served to give a wrong impression, by com- parison, of how things a-ctually are. Ten years ago the Editor of the Evening Express" saw how matters were shaping with the Soccer code, when he set apart a column in his Football Edition for the use of such a comparatively nonentity as myself. His choice of a contributor is not my point, but his earmarking of a special column for Soccer notes, as SUCLl; was at the time a dar- ing innovation. That it was justified is shown by h* continuing it. 1' We floai/t want to brag, but it has been hard to feel thsct we have not had OUT propet due, that we have been ignored, itwit were, in the athletic world outside South Wales. Mittel's are now looking up- During the lost ten years, I have said, the same thing times out of number with. I am afraid, little effect, but now that such a distinguished Player and critic as Mr. R. T. Gabe Puts his name to a similar reference to the state of things footbally in this district, there is a yery good chance that wider notice may be taken of it. And, after all, I am pretty sure that Mr. Gabe is even more emphatic than I have ever been. I have had to be fairly modesc owing to my known bias on the subject. As a Rugby enthusiast, Mr. Ga.be has no such limitations, a-nd we ought to feel grateful to him for his generous notice of the Association code in his "Notes frQm South Wales." Probably by the time these notes shine Upon an admiring world the Treharrie-Mer- thyr Welsh Cup-tie will have been definitely settled. In the case of a drawn game, the following Thursday is me-noned in the rules for the re-p'.ay. HoweVer, the printer could not permit me to wait for the re-play. That much, then, in explanation of my Position. I saw the match on Saturday, but, to be perfectly candid, I cannot persuade myself to get very enthusiastic about it. It was a dull, uninteresting, disappointing sort of exhibition. By no means worthy of two I euch clubs. I am sorry for that. Because, in a district vrhioh, after all, is comparatively new to the game, the matches, especially when so widely and extensively advertised as this one was, should show the possibilities of the game. It" cleverness, and so forth. This one did not. There were several bright oases in a deL- ert of dulness, and third-rate play. The I Previous game I saw, Barry Dock Albion v. Afiilford, was infinitely preferable in all respects. TTp to half-time, perhaps, Merthyr had a shade the better of the argument, but taking the game as a whole there could be no doubt that Treharris ought to have won- so fair as attack up to a certain point was concerned. But that they did not they have only themselves to blame. In front of goal i they were very so-so, and WrigMman and! Co. did the rest. Bailiff was not seriously: troubled in the second half. Whit-taker had given bini two or three gra.nd shots in the first period, but after the interval the out- side left was quite out of the picture. The Merthyr backs were good,, but their forwards could make no headway against the Tre- harris defence, where Smart and Timmins Were in gra,nd form. On both sides the defence was the better part of the teams, though with all their chances it is a myStery how the Treharris forwards could not get the winning point. I am pretty certain that I didn't see Treharris in the season's form which has brought them their, unbeaten Western League record. There were evidences that it wa? there. That's all. -A,pa.rt from its dulness and f general I

— —■ — I I THE GLOUCESTER INTERTERNATIONAL TRIO. I D. B. GEINT. W. JOHNS. I H. BERRY. [IPHOTO, H. E. JO,-ES. GLOUCESTER. '•1 •— — 1—. i I D. R. GENT, the famous little Gloucester half-back, is almost as well known in the Principality as in England. As most enthusiasts know, he is a native of Swansea and a schoolmaster by profession. He was educated at Swansea Gramrm,ar School and at St. Paul's College, Cheltenham. While at the latter institution he was discovered by the Gloucester Football Club, in whose ranks he has since played regularly, cap- ta-i-ning the city's premier tea.m in the season of 1906-7. "Dai" played his first internationals in 1905^6, figuring at outside half—instead of his usual place at ilneide-- against New Zealand, Wiaies, and Ireland. Be j. ó-r -:tJIi:,ftIUon':s fltoweertyr- shire afteen. He was born in 1883, is 5ft. 31n. in heig?" and weighs M. 71b. He nrst played for Gloucester in 1904-5. H. BERRY (Gloucester), the grand forward who at last has gained his .in ternatfenal cap, is a Gloucester man born and bred, j He celebrated his 27th birthday on the Sth of this month, on the day on which, curiously enough, he was selected to play for his country. Berry is 5ft. llin. in height, and at-present weighs 12st. 91b. As a soldier in the Gloucestershire Regi- ment, "H. B." served his country during the South African war, and also in India, where he played in the regimental Rugby, I Association, and hockey teams, captai-ning I the first-named. The only English club he has played for is Gloucester; the present is his third season with the oitizens, and he has made ten appea-rances for Gloucester. shire, figuring in every match la-flt- season and this season. W.' JOHNS is a Gloucester mam, born and bred. He has lived all his 27 years in Gloucester, and played football Vo. where else. His first love was the dribbling code, which he followed while at I Sir Thomas ltiob's school at Gloucester. When he left there he forsooik the old for the new, and played Rugiby for St. Cathe- rine's, a local club. Afterwards he got a I trdal with the citizens' second staing, and soon afterwiards WO r ked his way up, .until its: 1902-3 he became a regular praying lmlber of the Gloucester First Fifteen, ■ which he captained a year or two ago. He I has played in nineteen Gloucestershire matches, wobile last' year he gained his international cap, figuring in all four matches. Curiously enough, he decided to retire from the game at the close of last Beason, but was again pressed into service. Jofhns is 5ft. 9in. in height, end. weighs t. 12st. 4Lb.

THE RIVAL EXPLORERS-WHO WILL BE FLRST p z o I Our tame Artdst has likened the Itace to the Weteh Championship to a Race to the Pole. Neath is at present the nearest in a patent motor-car. Newport- comes next in a steady, plodding ship (this party is very proud of its record). Then comes the Swansea d,og-sled,ge. The Cardiff aeroplane, depicted just be/hind the Newpo-rt ship, has oome on very raTitHy, of late, amd has imignoved ita powtim greatly. The IlaueU7 baJfloon is 5th. (Tftat is how things, stand At the tim» of drawing. But,, after #B, it -&oeea% always do to judge by ai-Peanry-aaces. PswdJcxa tbie aneaeot pun.)

NEW WELSH CAPS. I HARRY JARMAN, the latest Welsh cap. is 1 yet anothsr Pontypoolian to have gained the honour, and all local sportsmen will unite J in heartily congratulating him. His foot- ball career has been a brilliant, but, unfor- 1 tunately, somewhat chequered one, owing J to the fact that during the season 1905-7, j when playing such a great game that he I was bound to secure international recogni- tion, he had the misfortune whilst playing for Pontypool against Newport on Easter Monday to very badly damage one of his knees, and it was feared at the time that tihe injury was of so serious a nature as to permanently disable him. However, such was not the case, and after being carefully nursed by the Pontypool Club for some considerable time he was onee again seen sporting t'he Pontypool eolours. B-ut he had not returned long to his old love before he transferred his affections to Newport, and in 1908-9 he donned the black and amber jersey, and since doing so has thoroughly justified his Welsh selection by Bound and consistent play. By trade he is a blacksmith, and resides at Abersycihan. He is about 28 years of age, 6ft. in height, and weighs 13st. 4lb., so that he possesses every qualification necessary to worthily uphold the honour conferred upon him. JOSEPH PCrGSLEY, the Cardiff forward, who so desei-veday gets his cap, should retain his place in the Welsh team for a. number of seesons if he can sustain his present form, because he has been pilaying aston- Lff this sea--Lon. His ishingly well for Cardiff this season. His comrades in the Cardiff pack speak of him as a wonderfully skilful "hooker," whilst as for cleverness in general open play Ivor MoTgan, of Swansea, is his only superior in Water- Pugsley is an exceptionally modest aofrt of chap. No matter how many hard knookis he may receive during a game, ■never a word of complaint does he utter, For that you a-re impolloed to like him. [PHOTO. A. AND G. TAYLOR, CABDIFF. Pugsley is a. bodlermaker by trade, and is a product of Cardiff junior football'. He is 24 years of age, 5ft. lOin. high, and weighs list. 121b. in his footbaU kit. W. L. RO-RGAN, the Cardiff inside half, who for the first time is honoured with a position in the Welsh international reserve list, has earned that honour by hits brilliant form durjnig the last six weeks, and Cardiff's remarkable scoring power recently has been largely due to the form shown by the half- backs, Morgan and Bush. Will:ie Morgan is immensely popular with his colleagues in the Cardiff team by reason of his good nature, giood temper, and pJuok on the field. He combines admiraibly with Percy Bush, often cleverly dribbles the ball away from his opponents' side of the field, and tackles fearlessly. Like his famous brother, Dr. E.1 Morgan, he learnt his footer at Brecon Col- j LPHMO. A. AND G. TAYLOB, CABDIST. lege. Subsequently he played with Cardiff Reserves, London Welsh, Kent County, and the Barbarians. He took part in the lost Anglo-Welsh tour to the Antipodes, &nd gained a big reputation down under." W. L. Morgan is 25 years of age, sta.nds 5ft. 6in., and weighs 10gt. tOlb. Mertthyr Northern Unionists will be pleased to know that the little misunderstanding rriiIh TOM THOMAS has been settled, and he will frumv play regiuilarly for Merthyr. This wiill mean a lot to the ibaok division, as Tom is a host in himself. EODiDIE MARSH played a brilliant game at Oruanlin last Monday. Througihout the whole of the game he was one of the most dangerous men on the side. He is very fast, and thae-a fond tendeneyfor dropping goals. THE YORKSHIRE PRESS speakz in glowing terms of the form shown by Smith and Cowmeadow, late of the Merthyr Northern Union team, bat now playing for York. Against- Gastleftwd last Saturday Cow- meadow was in gTeat form, and scored three" tries. AN IRISHMAN, named O'GPIUghom, is show- ing wonderful form at tlhree^rtcartier for the Old Merchant Taylors, just now. He scored ail the Taykure" srlx tries last Statair- dIwY. and is saad to be & certnmty for his Irbeh ow. Souse people a .????.P??   .? 4!!7 J JACK WARR, Blaina, is a new forward, whose services are much appreciated. He lias played previously for some junior teams in the district, and occasionally for the first fifteen. IVOR EVATJS and EDGAR FANNER, the two Blaina boy-s who played in the back divi- sioln for Brynimawr, did splendidly. They would make a splendid pair of half-backs, and are worth looking after. DEFINITE ARRANGEiMENTS have now been made with the Welsh Union to open the new Rhymney Athletic GtiXmnd on Monday, February, 14, and W. 'Trew, the Swansea, skipper, is bringing. an international fifteen to the town of song. C. COOK, the ex-Glorceeter full back, turned out at outside half for Abertillery on Satur- day against Pill Harriers, and won the game himself, kicking two goals from nearly half-way. THE PONTYPOOL MASCOT was suspended from the cross-bar at Coventry by Gus Carr, and proved effective, as the home team were unable to pilot the ball between the poets. P. OORINIICK. the Blaina oaptain and goal- keeper, is making a splendid rejputation for himself. His play thi's sea,so,n, has been admirable. In fact, he is the mainstay of the team.

"ONCE BIT." I CARDIRF VISITOR: Father in? MISS MOSSEbEY: Well—er—are you the gen- tleman from Cardiff? CARDIFF VISITOR: Yes. MISS MOSELEY: Oh! Then he isn't in. Nevertheless, Mioseley deceived another hidltrug at Cardiff's liands last Saturdiay- 9-5 points.

Welshmen Up North. I j By OVK NAJ. CORRESPONDENT. I BBW VALE played a deter- mined game at Warring- ton. lost Saturday, the Welsh team's play being igtreaitily admired by the crowd present, and their efforts applauded. The homesrters had all their work cut out to win, and -11 .1-1. tine IUCK oetrtaimy lavourea xoem, as O'MJa,lle,y's three tries had a flavouir olf luck about them,. Where the 'Valians were beaten was in the forward line, where the superior weight a.nd skill of the Wilderspool men told its taJe. G. Thomas played a fine forward game for the homesters. For the visitors, Jenkins and Dai Daviee were the pack. The best try of the match was got by Llewellyn, who fairly raced th the home bocks to score a magnificent try. Ebbw Vale could do with another good class oentre three- j quarter. Osborne, the old Mountain Ash and Welsh international forward, played a good game for tihe Hull t-eam against Huns-let last Satur- day. Hds 'keen tackling and buist-litig play was the cynosure of all eyes. The defeat of Huddersfield by York at Far- torwn last Saturday was the surprise of the day. The Fiartown men are gone completely off form. capture from Mer- thyr, scored a try, and played a good game. For the homesters Tommy Grey came in for Rosenfelt at centre, but did not show any- thing like form. Grey is far too slow. and light for tthe position. But the weak spot in the Fartown team, undoubtedly, was Jim Davies, who has completely lost his form and cannot do anyth:ing right. Dewsbury gained a victory over Mertihyr last Saturday.. but it can be said that it was not deserved, as rank bad

THE SWANSEA ELEPHANT AND HIS WOULD-BE TRAINER. (ANOTSM DRAW.) I I mean to make you do my will," The trainer from Llanelly said. "Indeed!" the Elephant replied, "fil make YOU do MY will instead." And so each tried that afternoon To make the other "bend the knee"; At first tihe trainer had his way, And things looked black for poor "Elphy." But then tihait tanner lost his hold. And tihe aaxaosed spectators saw take him in hand (ar trunk), ■AncLttoftt poBQ*t<A2SCXPfi^B. DJMIWI >.

RECOLLECTIONS. WALES' LEAN YEARSI AND THE BREAKING OF THE SEQUENCE I I By PERCY F. BUSH. l I Bearing in mind England's almost j pathetic eagerness to win this afternoon's I match with Wales, carrying with it, of j course, the admission of Wales's present- day superiority, it is somewhat difficult to imagine Wales indulging in a similar longing. But for many, many years the matches whicih she played with England 1 were by way of 'being nothing less than disgraces rt:ime .,afiter time. The games appeared to be arranged merely as prac- tice games for England,"and things had really got to such a pass that England1 found it impossible to grant us fixtures | because we were ''not good enough!" I Imagine, then, the liysteric-al delight, of the players who made up the Welsh I team of 1889-90. These Iheroes travelled: to Dewsbury strong in intent, but, withal, without much hope, and it seemed for the first half-ihour or so that the same old state of affairs was going to obtain. But England could not score, try as they would, and the Welshmen began to dare! to hope that there might be just a bare: chance of getting let down lightly. And then, all of a sudden, Biiller Stadden, whose name will never die, did the dapping-out-or-touch act, and before England had grasped the situation. Stadden had grounded the ball over their line. Wales was so fbucked-up by this piece of colossal audacity that she actually pressed hotly on several other occasions during the game, and defended so gamely that at the end of the game "Buller's" try was wTortli 100 points, as far as Wales'fe position was concerned, for she had won her first victory over the vigorous Saxon. What jubilation reigned that night! Besides Stadden, there were three other Cardiff players in the Welsh team, and all three forwards, namely and to wit, A. F. Bland, D. W. Evans, and W. E. O. Williams, ju £ t about as useful a trio as any team ever had, or could wish to have. Poor old Stadden! His was a sad end. But his name will never be forgotten. There was not a heap of him, but, still, he was very strong, and extra good both in attack and defence. The bigger the game the be.t.ter Stadden used to play, and another of !his greatest games was for Wales against Scotland at Newport in 1887-8. We had five men in the side that day, the otii&r four being A. F. Bland, A. F, Hill, 0. J. Evans, and Q. D. Kedzlie. Pryce Jenkins was the real hero on this special occa- sion, though, for he got a wonderful try when there seemed not to, be a cat's chance of "getting there." And that try won an historic victory for Wales, just as Stadden's did at Dewsbury, for Pryse's wonderful dash got the score-that won our first matxah against Scotland. The 1892-3 match with England on the Park will never be forgotten by those who saw it either, for many reasons, but chiefly, perhaps, because of the dramatic manner in which the game was pulled out of the fire. Fire had a good deal to do with :this game, by the way, for the game would never have been played but for Mr. W. M. Shepherd's buckets of fire being used for thawing the ground. The fires certainly thawed the ground, as W. M. S. thawed they would, but the ground was left ankle-deep in mud. England led until nearly 'tjhe end of the game, and when everything seemed lost England were penalised. The immortal "Billy" Bancroft was there to take the kick. It was a difficult one, and Arthur Gould wanted William to have it placed. "I should rather drop it, if I may," said the latter, and because Arthur was wise in hi? generation, and thus a great captain, he allowed "Banky" to have his way, with the result that that Miraculous Kicker I piloted the spheroid clean over the bar and the match was won for Wales. The; people were -silent at first, through, sheer astonishment, but when at last they realisedwhat had happened, such a shout was wafted down the banks of the Taff as made that old Tiver raise itself from; its bed and lift up its mouth as well! A good tale was told about A. F. Hill, who, with the, gallant Norman Biggs, represented Cardiff in that day's Welsh team. "A. F." was decidedly well built, and during the course of the game he was tackled by one of the English backs, who was stunned. by the concussion. When he had been attended to he opened his eyes slowly, and remarked: "What was that that struck me?" "Oh that was A. Hill, of Cardiff," answered one of the players. "A. Hill," sa?d the squashed one"; great guns, I thought it was the Pen- I nine Range!" (Anyone who disputes this yarn can I piek out any other match for it that he chooses. The yarn is the chief thing.) The English match of 1896-7, played at Newport, was also noteworthy^ princi- I pally by reason of its being the only international match in which the Prin- cipality participated, because Scotland and Ireland refused to play us for giving -1 I I The Mighty Arthur lioula I the testimonial he so richly deserved. Wales won this match by 2 goals and a try to nil. Selwyn Biggs, Gwyn Nioholls, and F. H. Cornish were Car- diff's representatives. Next year half of the Welsh fifteen against England were Cardiffians, Selwyn the Calm, Jack Elliott, E. Gwyn N.. I Vivian Hussey, Pussy Jones (than whom no slipperier player ever donned a jersey), F. Cornish, and Tommy Dobson all playing. The last-named was probably the hardest forward who ever turned out for his country, both in ,his play and physic- ally. Only once was ihe ever knocked out, and then he did it himself. Tommy's j methods of training also were unique, J and calculated not to upset him, and I shall never forget the look on the face r of a Knight of the Pen, who was inter- viewing him a day or two before he played against England. I Tommy was leaning gracefully up against his yacht, in which he had been taking a business trip, and I arrived just- in time to hear this question: And now, Mr. Dobson, will you be r good enough to tell me what you train on for a big match?" "Oh, yes," says Tommy,, "certainly. Beer is what I train on—and chips," as an a.fter-thought. I Well, anyhow, that diet seemed to suit Thomas quite well, for I never saw him play a poor game, and you would have had to go a long way before you found a better pair ot international brothers than I Thomas and George Dobson I Another rather funny incident hap- i pened at the time when Rhondda for- wards used often to get- into the team. Dick Hellings and W. H. Alexander were selecited for this particular ringiusu match. Both of these stalwarts were from Llwynypia, which team Cardiff played this afternoon, and both of them were-ell, stalwaxts. Before the game had gone very far one of the Englishmen, who was playing his first international game, and was not ve,ry settled as a consequence, got the ball. and was just making off with it when Helhngs and Alexander collared him. How dare you have that ball?" said one severely. Yes, how dare you ? Hand it over at once," added the other, and the opposing player was so astonished that he gave the ball up at once and Hellings and his chum were nearly over for a try before they were stopped. That same day, or evening rather, at the dinner following the match another player distinguished himself somewhat. When the soup came on this worthy was rather taken up with it. The usual amount satisfied him not; in fact, he seemed to think the helping hopelessly inadequate, so he called for a second lot, and this was so much to his liking that, being a tempørat-e man, and not wishful of mixing things, he refused to switch off to any other course, but continued stolidly eating soup fo the rest of the dinner, to the astonished amusement of the other players. And that's about all there's room for this week, else I should have liked very much to touch upon the trigs Jehoida ap Hodges scored against England at Swan- sea, after Thomas Pearson had got his ribs broken by Gamlin and Jehoida had taken his place on the wing. Also about the four tries that Willie Llewelyn got, with the help of Gwyn, on the same ground. Also about several other episodes, which, however, must keep for the present.

THE ONLY WAY. I 1-7 Newport, 2lpts; Devonport, 6pts. Last weeik. II (ABJECT APOLOGIES. decisions by Mr. Tonge. the referee, gave them the victory. Merthyr could do with a good scoring throe-quarter in their team, and great efforts are being made to get the services of Dad. Thomas, as the Aberaman man's presence in the team would work wonders. Paddison. at, full-hack is a bit slow, and should get his Kick in earlier, as he is liable to get it charged down. This is his only fault, and he should try to remedy it. Tom Thomas at centre was a weak spot, missing dhances to score by sheer inability. Wyatt Read at wing thrco QTzai-ter should learn to cuiltdvate a little coolness, as his wildnetes missed three easy chances of scoring. Read is a fairly good- man, and with a little more coolness should develop into a good player. Dai Thomas, the old Car- diff forward, played a fine bustling game for Merthyr, and, with D. B. Davies. was the best forward on the field. A "gtute" of 30,000 witnessed the Wigan v. Oldham encounter at Central Park last Saturday. The game proved to be a very keen one, and there can be no doubt that Oldham was the better team and deserved their victory. The Wigan pack were slightly superior, but it was at three-quarter where the were let down. Todd, the New Zealander, played a very poor game, and has completely lost has form. His inclusion in the team after his recent displays is a puzzle. Bert Jenkins played a safe game, and did his beet to retrieve the fortunes of his side. Johnny Thomas played a moderate game, and found a handful in his opponent. Ned Jones was the best of the Wigan backs, play- ng a fine all-round game, and he kept down the Oldham score by his clever deMice. IDs- try was very smartly got. Oldham are a fine aide, and are evidently trying to strengthen their team, as two Oldham, gentlemen were present at the Newport v. Devonport match last Saturday, their object being a centre three-quarter in the Welsh club. How far their efforts met with success remains to be seen. Hull Kingston met with aiiotiber defeat, this time by Halifax at Thrum Hall, last Satur- day. The Rovers were woefully weak behind, the backs being utterly incapable of doing anything. Dakin, the ex-Coventry centre, is proving a failure for the Rovers, and. was not included in the side last Saturday. Far Halifax Da.i Furnies played a good game, and was the best of the blue and whites' backs. Broughton Risngers gave further evidence of being a greatly improved side by beating- Rumoorn with ease. Since they brought Willie asrad Cqaude James IJook they 1JEwe donoe fairly well. Against Runcorn last Satan-day Ctaonde James played a. groevt game, and bad a ioC. to do w&h the Ave tries ^otdated to the bows-immn. H3)9, dtodgy run- j ning was too much -for the Linnets. Ruddick played a dashing game, and in scoring his try he showed speed which surprised even his admirers. The old Brecon man's leading of the pack was also admirable. RocJidalo give another good display dn beating Lpi?h at Mathen Lane last Saturday. Rochdale, after a slump, are playing in great form. By the way. what has become 'of Dai Davies, the clever Leigh centre three-quarter ? He is, surely, a better man than Ishcrwood I for the position. Batley gained a narrow victory over Wake- field Trinity last Saturday at Mount Pleasant, onily two penaJty goals from the foot of Wattie Da-vies gaining the victory. The home wards played in great style, fairly rushing the cupholders' forwards off their f:tg which is no mean achievement, and behind the Batley players did not second their for-, wards' eSbrts with the &ucoess des-arved, Will Davies being the chief offender, who is much too prone to kick instead of trusting to his superior pace and strength to carry him through. He is big enough to be one of the best. &LIford are going great guns at present, and it looks as if the Reds and Oldham are going to hold a commanding position in the league table. Both teams are notorious for flattering only to deceive, end they generally fail in the final stages. It is a regular fact that neither of the teams have won any honours befitting the composition and status of the team. In their marticih against St. Helens la-st Saturday at Weaste they proved greatly superior to the visitors. The foundation of their win lay in the for- wards, who played a sterling game, and grained possession nearly all the game. E. J. Thomas played a fine game, and his judgment when he put Hyam over with a try deserved praise. Johns at full-back played another grand game, and was coolness personified. The little man is one of the best full-backs in the Union, and his play throughout tihe season has been most consistent, and there can be no doubt that he has had a lot to do with Balford's success this beaeon. isid Adams played a fine game at centre, and his strong runs always spelt danger to the visitors. The old Newport man's feeding of Clo-ok, his wing, was perfect, and his defence was also good. What a good man he is proving to the Weaste team! His weight and strength make him an ideal Northern Union player. The -wonder is that he was not capped before this season. W. Thomas also played a good game ait half-back, his try being a fine effort. The old Aberavon player opened out the gaane in true Weloh, faealon. Dewsbury has this week tried hard to get the services of Dai Thomas, and had agreed with Hull Kingston Rovers the big transfer few required by the Humberside club. The negotiations with the Welsh sprinter, however, failed, as he shows a dis- inclinartlon to leave his native Wales, and firmly refused to go to the Yorkshire club. It is thought he would much prefer playing for a WelEh, team, And there can be no [ doubt his inclusion in one of the Welsh clubs would gi-eatly benefit tihe side. M'any prominent Northern Union players have offered their services for the proposed Colonial tour, but they must get their club's sanction before they can be taken seriously, and a few olubs will surely oppose t'he sailing of their best players. It is rumoured in the 1 case of a. few players that they intend stay- ing in the Colonies, and have no intention of returning. )

I Northern Union. I I MERTHYR. I A good crowd witnessed Mertibyr's home engagement with. Dewsbury, and no one can deny the fact that Merthyr were unlucky to lose two points. FRery man in the Merthyr ,team did his duity well, but other factors robbed Merthyr of. a. deserved victory. I I No one 4regrets the out-break at the end of I the match more than the M?Tthyr oom- mittee, who were powerless in the matter, ) However, the sooner ? the Northern UnMm ComonLttee take up the question of ref-- the better for eva7xme concerned, otherwise the pme in South. WaJeø w2& sufiw. "d griesowtov too.

DINAS RANGERS R.F.C., Season 1909. RUNNERS-UP RHONDDA VALLEY LEAGUE, SECOND DIVISION. "v [PHOTO, H. J. B. WILLS, CARDIFF. 5 TOP ROW: E. J. Reest T. Lewis, H. B. Williams (treasurer), and J. Davies. SECOND ROW: R. Lewis, J. Hawikins, J.. Fechem, W. Davies, E. Brooks, J. Jones, W Tucker, T. John, J. Q Bruen. D. Li. John, C. Delay, T. Weaver, and P.O. Edmttrod" THIRD ROW: J. Lloyd (trainer), C. Yonng, W. Rees (vrice-presridenifr), W. Lewis (chair- 11 man) L. Main (captain), P. J. Dasfres (hou. secretary), T. J. Davies, and R. D&Vie& BQ3TOM BOW: K Wmexutmore, T. Suimmeriitt, and, E. HoweM*,

I ineffectiveness, I h3;ve little Other cormplainit at the fare provided. There was a suspicion of leisure in the taking of goal-kicks and I Possibly, I am getting too exacting, atnd. after aJlI. players in the noble a.nd arictooratic game of cricket do not hurry themselves in the matter o.f changing over." As on the preceding Saturday, my timekeeping went astray. I did not notice the clock from any idea of checking any- ibody, but because I had a brain, to catch at I 4.30. And as the referee must allow for I time lost through accident," and the second half lasted exactly 45 minutes, the allowance for the two stoppages must have been in that time. Personally, I am glad that I was able to stop to the end., ifior the last five minutes I were some of the beat of the match for brightness of play. Having had some experi- I ence in past years of the taok of referee, I must record that Mr. Neale managed, a hard cup-tie to general satisfaction, and his deci- sions were received by players and speotaltore, in a thorough sporting manner. Barry West End will look upon their Junior Cup experience of 1909-10 with very mixed feelings. They journey to Pembrokeshire to play the Royal Garrison Artillery cost the club or players, or both, a lot of money, but they came back, if with empty poc,k.e,ts, with a substantial victory to their credit. At the Association meeting last Saturday the lloyal Garrison Artillery, without formally pTotesting, expressed a doubt as to the eligibility of a couple Of the West Enders. The West End admitted that a couple of their team, whilst being members of the their club this year, had played for a neighbouring club in last year's Senior Cup. If these two had not played, they would have had to "field" nine men, owing to a couple of their chosen team not making the journey. I But "why" ineligible players are played is beyond the province of the committee to dis- cuss or entertain. No possible reason can be I accepted. Thd rule is about the most albsoll,ultely clear and definite in the book. In most rules the committee can exercise dis- cretion, but not in this instance. There was nothing else to do but to disqualify West End. Whether AibertiUery will get a walk-over into thesemifina1 now rests with the Royal Garri- son Artillery. ThAy now have the oiptioal of taking West End's place in the draw, but as they didn't "protest" rgainst West End, there is no compulsion orci them to play Abertillery. The choice and opportunity is theirs. The only certain thing is that Barry West End are debarred. How the matter came about is a pretty rumour. To-day's Rugby International will want all the space the editor can find. Although I have many rood totpics on my list, as Pem- broke Dock's successful visit to Cardiff City, t.he losing of ndgih Cross Stars' record to Lysa gluts, and so on, I will not forget that a little item Twickenham way will be I demanding much attention to-day. All Soccer men as well as Rugby men jore that Wales's play will result in the Principality winning the first big international on Eng- land's new ground. The prophets all seem to think that Wales will win. But if luck, or anything else, should be against the weavers of the sea-riet, jersey, please, ye many spectators whom we thall, meet next week, please don't treat us to any more gereechings against the referee, whoever he may be. Although; I must a,dmit. by such self-denial, you will be depriving South Wales Soccerites of one of their choicest and oldest jokes. But, good luck to Wales in the' international tourney. Our games will be with us in February and March, and Rugger men will be very welcome.