FOOTBALL FACTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9363, 12 March 1896, Page 2

FOOTBALL FACTS.

[By Drop Kick.] The first International Rugby match of the season was played at Liaokheath on January 4th between England and Wales, when the former won very easily by twentvfive points (2 goals and" five tries) to nil. The English forwards (says the Athletic Nevis) were the main instruments in this victory, though the bulk of the scoring was done by the backs, only one try being gained by a forward. The wonderful combination and the marvellous attacking ability of the machine-like men of Wales never got a chance to operate, for the brilliant rushes of the English forwards effectively disorganised any prearranged system of operations. There was a Sne and large crowd of spectators on the Rectory ground, and the victory evidently pleased the majority of the people. In connection with Saturday's International matcli (says the same paper) it may be of interest to mention that R. E. Lockwood, the captain of the English team which inflicted the famous live goals' defeat on the Welshman two year* ago at Birken*

head, and who probably had more to do with that result than r any .other single individual, was on Saturday selected to play with Wakefield Trinity's second fifteen ! Sic transit gloria mutnlL The subject of what constitutes efficient refereeing opens up a very wide discussion (saj-s an English writer). Ovcr-prcaiseness spoils the'game just as the allowing of apftsals only serves to introduce the undesirable element of wrangling into the game. .What is wanted are experienced officials who, while allowing mere trivial offences that do not put the..opposing side at auy disadvantage to pass by, yet keep the players well in hand and sternly enforce the broad rules of the. game. This doe 3 not mean laxity, and at the same time prevents the game from being spoiled by the musical efforts of the gentleman who happens to be invested with a little brief authority.