The London Welshman

Football. RUGBY. LONDON WELSH V. NEWPORT. This match was played in Queen's Club in delightful weather, before a very small attend- ance, only about 800 witnessing the game. It seems that residents of a populous district like West Kensington do not appreciate Rugby, for all the efforts of London Welsh to attract a following have ended in failure. This in spite of the fact that visitors to Queen's Club include Newport, Devonport Albion, Gloucester, North- ampton, and other provincial clubs in the first flight of Rugby. It seems to us that it would almost be better for the Welsh to give up the "classic enclosure and betake themselves to a populous suburb, there to awaken the enthusiasm of a loyal local crowd. Richmond and Blackheath have done this, and have found that as their fame went abroad the spasmodic visits of a class of London Rugby supporters have also been accorded to them, in addition to a strong local .following. Saturday's game at Queen's Club, however, did not deserve an audience numbered by tens of thousands. There was no football fare of an attractive character served up. True, there was no lack of incidents, but these inci- dents concerned sins of omission on the part of the players rather than preconceived meritorious action. Considering that two admittedly first class teams took the field, we regret to chronicle that the most prominent features of the game were bad fielding, slovenly passing, and lack of "finesse," and the spectacle of accident playing a more prominent part than design. Newport were without G. Boots and Thomas forward, and Buckley at half, the only changes of note in the Metropolitan side being the sub- stitution of Stringer for Rees at full-back and the inclusion of Ward for Partridge in the pack, the last-named electing to play for his old club. We are unable to give the reason for Stringer's inclusion instead of Rees, who, we understood, had given satisfaction hitherto, and we are rather in the dark as to the precise qualification justifying his being given the title of London Welshman. We are, however, aware that the London Welsh Reserves possess men at half, centre, and full-back who merit a trial when the premiers are short, but the Hospitals evidently suggest more fruitful recruiting fields to the Welsh Selection Committee. We are not doubt- ing the capabilities of the men played, but we are only pointing out a rather obvious alternative to the Selection Committee's action, an alterna- tive that finds favour with every Welsh first-class club. When the Welsh substituted in the Devonport Albion game there were good reasons for their action, but we feel that it would be better to lose games with a genuine London Welsh XV. than to win through the inclusion of outsiders. Further, we are open to consider arguments proving that London Welsh reserve men would be inferior to men playing now. The first incident of note in the game under notice was Morgan getting well away, only to be tackled by Griffiths. Some fairly weak kicking was then indulged in by both sides, a penalty to the homesters gaining little ground. Newport worked up to the Welsh 25, and Wade, who was indefatigable throughout in his efforts to open out the game, got the ball away well, and the first and practically the last decent passing movement in the game ended in Newport's right wing scoring far out. The kick at goal failed. London Welsh then took up the attack, and had the best of the exchanges for some little time without, however, gaining any advantage of a material nature. Newport then dribbled down. Stringer was tackled, and W. H. Williams crossed the line with a try, which was not improved upon. Griffiths was again pro- minent for Newport, collaring Maddocks in the nick of time. Owen, the Welsh half, was now unfortunately hurt, and was taken off the field. Both sides indulged in dribbling, but showed poor judgment, the forwards continually kicking too hard, and thus continually placing the defending parties in a position of attack. Half- time arrived with Newport holding a lead of two tries to nil. The Welsh resumed without Owen, Maddocks playing at half. Newport pressed, but scrums on the Welsh line were negotiated successfully, and Owen found touch well. London Welsh made several bursts in the direction of the Newport line, but lacked finish and were soon repelled, and soon after J. C. Williams picked up in a loose rush and crossed the Welsh line with a third unconverted try. Following this the Welsh took up an attacking position in the Newport twenty-five, and Stringer took advantage of this and dropped a good goal. Luck, how- ever, seemed to be against the Welsh, for Newport scored yet another try through Thomas, the kick again failing. London Welsh pressed at the finish, and after Maddocks had been tackled on the line, no side arrived with the score reading Newport, 4 tries London Welsh, one dropped goal. As has already been hinted, the game, as an exposition of what is best in Welsh Rugby, was a miserable failure, and we are extremely dis- appointed with the display given by London Welsh, who had the chance of a lifetime to beat the famous Usksiders. Good passing was con- spicuous by its absence, score after score being spoilt by aimless tossing of the ball. The forwards were better, both sides indulging in some fair dribbling. For Newport Griffiths played a good defensive game, while Jenkins and Thomas played excellent games in the pack, as did Harding and J. F. Williams for London Welsh. Both pairs of half-backs gave a moderate display. E. Morgan and Maddocks were good for London Welsh on their respective wings, whilst A Player" showed a greal deal of his old time skill for Newport. The game will, however, be chiefly remembered for a display of ineptitude by two good sides, from which something far better was expected. The "A" team again had no fixture, while the B had theirs scratched through opponents being unable to raise a team owing to the claims of business-Saturday being Balance Day. The 2nd XV. found easy victims in Old Alleynian 2nd, trouncing them by one goal nine tries to two tries (32 to 6). Tries were scored in difficult positions, but a feature of the game was the bad luck attending attempts at converting, the posts being hit many times from the touch-line. Next Saturday's programme is as follows :— London Welsh v. Gloucester, at Queen's Club. „ 2nd v. Sutton 2nd, at Sutton. „ B v. Ealing A," at Hendon. The A are without a game at present. CYMRO. WALES v. ENGLAND. THE WELSH TEAM. The Committee of the Welsh R.F.U. has selected the following team to oppose England at Cardiff on January 14th George Davies (Swansea), back; W. Llew- ellyn (Newport), D. Rees (Swansea), R. T. Gabe (Cardiff), and E. T. Morgan (London Welsh), three-quarter backs; R. Owen (Swan- sea) and R. Jones (Swansea), half-backs; W. Joseph (Swansea), A..F. Harding (London Welsh), D. Jones (Aberdare), F. Pritchard (Newport), J. J. Hodges (Newport), H. Watkins (Llanelly), W. Neill (Cardiff), and W. Travers (Pill Harriers), forwards. Reserves :—Back, Young (Cardiff); centre- three-quarter backs, H. T. Maddocks (London Welsh) and F. Gordon (Swansea); right-wing three-quarter, C. Biggs (Cardiff); left-wing, W. Trew (Swansea); reserve to Owen, Gent (Gloucester); reserves to Jones, vV. Trew (Swansea), and Gibbs (Penarth); forwards, J. F. Williams (London Welsh), R. Thomas (Penygraig), T. Evans (Llanelly), and W. Taylor (Bridgend). Touch-judge for Wales, W. Douglas. The whole of the selected fifteen are old Internationals.