FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10600, 8 March 1895, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The twelfth, of the international football matches between England and Wales (writes the Canterbury Times' London correspondent) was decided at Swansea on Jan. 5 in favour of the Englishmen, who, after a grand game, forced the leek down Taffy’s throat with eight points in band. The superiority of the Rose team was forward; behind the pack the Welshmen were every bit as good as their opponents. S. M. J. Woods, the English captain, started the game, and the visitors at once initiated a hot attack, which was strenuously opposed by the Welsh three-quarters, who, getting possession, commenced a brilliant bout of short, sharp passing, finally getting to the English twenty-five. A few minutes later, a combined rnu by the Welsh three-quarters . took the play right on to the visitors’ line, and a hot scrum resulted in Elssy sneaking a try for the Leeks. Nettled by the reverse, the Rose team tried their hardest to break through their opponents’ defences, and after several narrow escapes the Welsh three-quarters and full-back were beaten by Thompson, who planted the ball in a vary good position. But the place-kick failed and honours were easy at half time* Brilliant scrimmaging characterised the opening of the second half’s play, but after having all the best of the game, the representatives of England were fooled by some tricky work by the Welsh halves, andl failing to stop Graham, had another try registered against them. Again, the place-kick failed. The pace became hotter after this reverse, and the Englishmen set it. They knew their_ strength lay forward, and began to utilise it with determination. They wheeled the scrums in splendid style, and soon Leslie-Jones was given an opportunity to equalise. He did 00, and his example was copied, by Carey a few minutes later. The Welshmen were by this time " pumped out and well beaten, but they defended their goal with dogged determination, and the final try for the Englishmen was only obtained by a supremo effort. Woods got over, and though the was taken at a very difficult angle* Mitchell managed to land a major. Thereafter, the Leeks were penned close in their own territory* but nothing further was scored against them, and when the whistle blew the Rose could’ claim the victory by one goal three tries (fourteen points) to two tries (six points). Undoubtedly tho better team won, for clever as the Welsh three-quarter* and halves were, they could do little behind a pack opposed to such forwards as England put into the field.