RUGBY FOOTBALL

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1931, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ENGLAND v. SCOTLAND. The battle tor the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfiekl, on March 21, when Scotland defeated England by 28 points to 19, was the most extraordinary game between these opponents since they first met sixty years ago, writes C. W. Paekford in London “Sporting Life,” Due either to a spirit of adventure or an exaggerated idea of the alleged weakness in defence of the opposition, both teams concentrated on attack. This was so spectacular and successful that a crowd of between 70,000 and 80,000 were roaring their appreciation every moment of the game. This was not surprising. After a hectic opening, in which the English forwards asserted their superiority in the art of gaining possession, the scoring commenced, and within the next twenty-five minutes Scotland crossed the English line four times against the thrice of England. Two minutes later J. A. Tallent twice scored for England, his second try being a superb individual effort in which he ran through half the Scottish team, and with B. H. Black emulating the uncan'ny accuracy of Allan the teams were on an equality. Still the, scoring continued. W. R. Logan caught the English 1 defence napping, and went round the blind side of the scrum for a try which Allan easily converted; J. R. S. Reeve retaliated for England, too wide out for Black to negotiate; and then the Mackintosh-Allan combination gave Scotland a seven points lead at the interval.

Directly afterwards lan Smith left everyone standing still to score twice in rapid succession, and with Allan converting once England, now fifteen points in arrears, appeared doomed. They made a glorious effort to save the game. Blade kicked a penalty goal and Reeve scored another try, to leavei the issue still in doubt, and Scotland, realising their danger, settled down to a stern defence that foiled the furiously-battling Englishmen. That Scotland deserved their success there is no question. Although their forwards were inferior to those of England in the set scrums, they were better in the lino out and the loose, while they were more versatile and reliable behind and their defence was much sounder.