Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser

FOOTBALL. THE COVENTRY MATCH. (By ONE OF THE CROWD). Coventry's defeat of Penarth on Saturday last, came as a bit of a surprise to both victor and van- quished. Last season Coventry could put out a very hot lot. but this year they bad not played up to reputation till their meeting with Penarth, and their victory over the Seasiders by nine points to nil, shows cleally that they are on the up grade once more. Many and various are the reasons which can be put I forward to account for the breaking of Penarth's record. In the first place they did not take up their full team—Alexander, Prole, and Ellis being absent, «nd in the second place they again lost through bad tactics, depending on kicking rather than playing the passing game. It was at half where Penarth were z;1 badly beaten. Tuke, the Irish International, proved himself to be an exceptionally fine player, whilst, on the other hand, Thornley, the substitute Penarth took away instead of Prole, was exceedingly weak. Time after time the Penarth men weie bested by the clever Irish player, and the absence of Prole was badly felt. Penarth's third line, too, was out of gear. Herby Morgan was slightly off, and did not at all play up to last: season's form and the quartette, as a whole, did not do well. They did plenty of good kicking, but( with respect to clever passing and dodging, they were out of the bunt. Well. another Irish International, played a clever game for the homesters, whose backs utilised every chance they had. In fact, this was the real difference between the two teams; the one made use of their opportunities, the other couldn't, or didn't. Apparently" there was little difference between the forwards, Jack being as good as his mas- ter. As regards dash and combination, however, there is great room for improvement in the Perarth team. THE SECOND'S MATCH. The meeting of Penarth second string and Newport Extra's was a most interesting exhibition. Skipper Edgington's men played with great dash, and bad haid lines in not bringing off a win. They are a speedy lot, and tackle with determination. They follow up splendidly. Certainly they deserved to win on Saturday, leading as they did till the finishing stages of tbe game. A little more lasting power would have brought the desired result, as ii was in this respect only that the Newpo: tians beat them. THE NEATH FIASCO. Punishment has, at last, been meted out to those who uphold and practice mob law and intimidation of referees at Neath. The matter came before the Rugby Union on Thursday evening, and the result was a decision to suspend play on the Neath ground for one week. This verdict entirely justifies Mr Dewar, the Penarth secretary. The only complaint we hear on all sides about it is that it is a mere burlesque of jus- tice in not going far enough. As a matter of fact it won't interfere, materially with the Neath first team at all, as they play away at Llanelly next Saturdi3- It will only stop the seconds who were fixed to play at home. Let us hope, however, this will be a warn- ing, and that those who think they can terrorize and bounce referees into pandering to the crowd will profit by it. Of course the Neath men had their large con- iing-ent of witnesses ready to dispute Mr Dewar's decisions, and to impute partiality, but, of course, the [ Rugby Union would consider no evidence that dis-1 puted matters of fact. >iwwii»»iiwwntrinin»»iiii—iniiiiii ■ betjgai 1 PENARTH A v NEWPORT EXTRAS. Played at Ponarth before a capital muster. Mr W. P. Gibbs (Penarth F.C.) refereed. The initial exchanges were distinctly in favour of the homesters, who, however, could only score a minor The drop-out saw the Seasiders still holding the upper hand, for within five minutes of the start Angove drew first blood with an unc onverted try. Resuming, Penarth compelled Stratton to touch down. Play now became more equal, although the visitors were kept the wrong side of the meridian. From a scrummage Dewar secured, when Stamp, receiving from a difficult pass, located the venue in Newport's 25. Play for a while alternated 'twixt there and mid-field, Johnson being frequently applauded for his sterling game. Do what they might Newport could not raise the siege. Eventually the equatorial was passed, when the New- port skipper got off with a sprin't but was toppled head over heels into touch by stamp. Then Augove and Eli Kirby dexterously handled and again got ioto the visitors territory, Kerby's headlong career being summarily checked by Heard. A loose rush now swept play to neutral ground, several bouts of smart passiug by the visitors' third line being nullified by Edgington and Johnson. W- G, Jonesfinally received 11 y and passed his opponents, but Tommy Ball was at home'' and temporarily rendered his man hors de combat- A flying kick by Dewar, well followed up once more saw play in Newport's 25, where-immedi- ately after from a moat difficult angle Edgington, from a free, kicked a goal. For off-side tactics by W. G. Jones the Seasiders were enabled to again imperil Newport's citadel. Newport were pr6ssii)g with the arrival of half-time. HALF-TIME SCORE G. T. M. PENARTH A. #I I I NEWPO TU EXTRAS o 0 1 *Penalty goal. On the restart a mull let in Penarth, who were still going fast and strong. Heard now retired hurt, Notwithstanding this, Newport got into their oppon- ents' quarters, and made the game hurnla bit. With. in four minutes, Heard, Newport's left wing, re- sumed, and an almost certain try was stopped by Stamp flooring1 Toft )ust on the line. The outcome was a touchdown btill the black and amber brigade returned to the attack, and it took the lads in blue to p)ay their best to retain their fortress intact. For not putting the ball fairly in the scrummage a free was awarded the Seasiders, but this brought them no relief. Eventually Edgington, with a deft dribble, y 11 secured a slight relibf, and this being well backed up Chivers was enabled to more than equalise the game for a while. Morel now reinforced Penarth's quartette, and the quintette soon made things look a bit more lively, Chivers by a well-judged punt finding touch in Newport's 25. This was not well utilised, and the centre became the play's locale- Yard by yard the ground was stubbornly contested up to Penarth's 25 where they dogged and persistent efforts of the visitors were rewarded, for from a scrnmmage Toft cleverly wriggled overthe line, and W. G. Jones put on the coup de grace. With only a point separ- ating them both sides played their last ounce. From loose play mid-field the Newport backs got off with a rattle, and R. Leonard securing raced over with a try which was unconverted. Two mmutes after the whistle tootled, Newport winning bv 2 points. FINAL SCORE G. T. M. NEWPORT EXTRAS .a i 2 PENARTH A, *I I I I *Penalty goal. I PENARTH STARS v PENARTH VICTORIAS. This match took place on the Stars ground on Satur- day last in very fine weather' The Stars losing the toss, kicked off and after a bit of fast play, Evans received the ball from Porter and dropped a goal. Soon after this T. Trought got over with a very smart try from a scrimmage close to the Victoria's line- Evans failing to convert, nothing farther scored up to haif time. After the restart, the Victorias tried to score, but Blackmore's (the Stars fall back) tackling was too good to allow them to cross the line- From a scrummage George Porter received the ball, and kicking it well towards the Victoria's line, the Stars' forwards following up well, C. Warborton picked up and easily eluding the back ran between, the posts- E"HIiS again failed to convert- A lot of fast play was now witnessed, but no further points were obtained, Fiuvii score — Start; one dropped goal and two cries to nil. The following will be the team to represent tIe Stars next Saturday at Penarth against LIantwitt Major- Back-—R. Blackmore- ï Backs—W. S, NI. J. Smith, I-I. P. Evans, G. H- Porter, N. Jewel P)acks-T., Trough* W- J. Evans- Forwards—C. Warborton (captain.) Eli Richards, S. Parry, E. Knights, D. -Drowniiig, T. Browning, C- S. Draper, J. Barnes.