A GREAT HISTORICAL INTERNATIONAL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 284, 26 August 1922, Page 18

A GREAT HISTORICAL INTERNATIONAL

FAMOUS PLAYERS OF THE PAST Those who are able to recall the names of the famous players mentioned in the following article, by an anonymous Welsh writer, will enjoy the references, and those to whom the names have all the glamour of tradition will! be no less interested in the delightful narrative of one of the greatest games in the history of the game of Rugby: “I ’Vender, ” says the writer, “whether anyone remembers the England v. Wale's match at Cardiff, played o<i January 9, 1893. To me that, game and its setting went to make it ,the most historical of all the tests I have watched. Frost had set in hard at the New Year, and it was obvious that the international match would not be played on the 9th, unless something unforseen occurred. Early in the week the authorities covered the playing area with straw to the depth of over a foot, but still the frost continued. On Friday, a big gang of men wns engaged, and portions of th© ground were uncovered, and hundreds of ‘fire devils’ were placed on sheets of iron. Then, as fast as the ground was thawed, the ‘devils’ were removed to fresh spots, and the thawed portions quickly covered again with straw. So the work continued, and the sight, as it appeared on Friday night, made an impression on one’s memory never likely to be forgotten. “The match was billed to commence nt 2.45. and at midday, although 'it was still freezing hard, the straw was removed to the touch-line. At 2.o’cloci the referee and the rival captains, A. K. .Stoddart. of England, and A. J. Gould, of Wales, came out and tested the ground, to see if it was playable. I believe Gould had some difficulty in persuadmg Stoddart to play, but in the end it was decided to play. The Welsh hacks were Bancroft, McCutcheon, and Norman Biggs, with, I believe, the brothers James, of Swansea' as half-backs. The English back division was Field, of Cambridge University, as full-back, and Stoddart, Alderson, and Lockwood, as t.hieequarteni. Marshall and De Winton were the halves, and the forwards were a mixed lot, from all over England. This was the last time England played against Wales their then time-honoured' formation of three three-quarters and nine forwards. “A fast, open game was played, m which the scoring was prolific. Lohden, of Blackheath, scored one try, ana Marshall notched three inure, while Norman Biggs and Arthur Gould ran in for Wales. Gould’s try would not havg been scored had Field gone low for him. Five minutes from time Eng-

land held the lead. Then De Winton, fell foul of ths referee, about ten yards on the Walsh side of the English twenty-five, and almost on the touchline. Gould called Bancroft up, to take a place-kick, but Bancroft pleaded for a ‘drop,’ and having got permission, sant the ball flying over the cross-bar, a. beautiful goal. Ths whistle blew shortly afterwards, and most people left the ground under the impression that the scores were level, but those better versed in international Rugby remembered that, unlike club scoring, a penalty goal meant one point more than a try, and thus it came about that Bancroft’s kick won the game for Wales. “Bancroft introduced his famous ‘punch’ football in the game. Stoddart, at one point of the match, put in one. of his huge punts, and followed up hard, putting his men on side. It looked as though nothing could prevent England scoring, because Bancroft was practically in the middle of a bunch of white jerseys, all careering for the Welsh line—and he a pigmy, amongst giants, foremost among whom were W. E Biwwset, S. M. J. Woods, and Frank Evershed. However, just as the crowd overtook the ball, Bancroft jumped at it, and punched it right out of the field of play, right over the dead-ball line. A lot was said at the time regarding what was certainly not playing to the spirit of the game, hut there was nothing in thft laws of Rugby to which exception could be taken, and doubtless Bancroft considered that the end justified the means. Of course, nowadays, a referee would have no option but to award a try—such finesse would bo regarded as foul play.”

An interesting point was raised bv the Western Province players on their return to Cape Town from their match at Kimberley. They affirmed that their greatest and most effective opponent was the altitude. Towards the end of the game they had difficulty in raising a gallop. The authorities are considering the question of sending the team a week in advance of the match, but the extra expense will probably be a serious factor in th< decision.

Many of the Springboks were out' of action with illness and injury, when the latest mails left. The illness that kept Mellish out of the provincial matches proved more serious than was at first thought. Meyer’s injury to the knee is keeping him out of the ganje for a prolonged period, and Tindall’s injury in the Free State match was a set-back to the chances of Western Province, who were equal in points to Transvaal in the middle o* July. Ollivier has also been missing from “rep.” fixtures, and Pienaar p another absentee from some of their 11. Morkel, said to be the best hooke in his province this season, has also had to stand down. '