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—————————— RUGBY PERIL IN THE COALFIELD. Where the Fault Lies CALL TO THE WELSH UNION [By FORWARD."] Opinions are divided as to the effect the Eight Hours Act upon football in the mining districts. No apology is deeded for further directing public atten- ion to the subject, as there is sufficient justification in the very interesting bUdget of opinions which have been ^pressed as a result of what I wrote last Why I should be suspected of enCOuraging professionalism is an enigma, and the suggestion is on a par with the statement of a Rhymney Valley secre- cy, that "since the introduction of the }j¡ight Hours Act all the colliers are out 01 the pit aj; two o'clock." Anybody— eScially a club official-living in a ?ing district really ought to know better. h" It is not fair that any player, whatever is circumstances, should be expected to Cs& a day's work and its equivalent in ;rages for the sake of playing a game of °°tball. In the case of married men, and. there are many of them, the wives would have the right to say something by *ay of protest. Even if a wife doesn't rouble about getting a vote she is keen 011 a full week's pay, and she has a right to be. Anyhow, I must not magnify the Acuities lest I lay myself open to the charge of being pessimistic, and that is a ^ate of mind which I dread.

MR. TEDDY LEWIS ON CAUSESI IBW" PEiMDRAGON.111 What are the causes of the decadence Of Rugby football in the Rhondda Valley d Or that there is decadence—and serious Idelice-is a fact patent to everyone 7ho has taken an interest in Welsh Rugby Ootball for the past twenty years or tiore. I spent a day in the Rhondda this week vtv'rites Pendragon") to ascertain from n who have been associated with foot- from its infancy in the valley of coal th6 causes of the decline. i "hen I put the question to Mr. Teddy I ? -?'is, of Pontypridd, he at once over- d helmed me with 'a torrent of eloquent ??unciation of the big clubs. i 'They are the cause of it all," said ?' and they will be just as sorry for it I 7s We are later on. There is no doubt OUr valley football has been on the down- ade for a long time, and, if the day  comes when interest in Rugby foot- i 9'l ceases to exist in the Rhondda, then, ePend upon it, the situation will re-act  the big clubs. Take the Cardiff ???, for instance. You and I well know ?t nn ?!?i? i?qy tCa?.ar Monday, *md j other holiday times their attendance ??s into thousands beyond their normal ( ?te. Where do these extra thousands Settle from ? They are from the Rhondda. "?1, if Rugby decays and shrinks away -? the Rhondda the colliers will no longer 60 to Cardiff to see the holiday matches,  the Cardiff Club will be the poorer 'y hundreds of pounds. Furthermore, the decadence of Rugby in the Rhondda  not tend to strengthen the game in the large towns. We have appealed to 'bl- big clubs for years until we have be'Otne tired of appealing to them, and ,t wiU be entirely their own fault if they !) their turn become infected with the  of decay." But, surely, you don't blame the Cardiff Club alone?"  Most certainly, I do not. In fact, in I ?? respects the Cardiff Club has been ?iQer to us than some of the others. ?bj?plaint has been made that the I b"Ondda players are rough. I don't ?? witli that. They are v Vigorous, But Not Rough. I  nt hesitte to say that I have seen jsu *t + as much roughness in Cardiff and S? ?nsea. and Newport and Cardiff f^ etches as I have in Rhondda games. -it?zhla second complaint made is that the dressing accommodation is inade- quate. I'll grant that the dressing-rooms are not as large or as well fitted as those in Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea, but, surely, the sportsmanship of the com- mitteo and players of the bier clubs should impel them to concede a little in that respect in order to help the lesser organisations- Look what home and home fixtures would have meant to our Rhondda clubs. Not only would their gates have been bigger, and so have given no nee d to the committee to dip their hands into their own pockets, but their style of play would have improved, the spectators would have obtained more en*oyment, and in time the Hillmen would have proved worthy opponents of I aU-comers. Besides, the increased funds] could also have been used to provide the I better dressing accommodation desired by the big clubs." And, in your opinion, can the situa- tion still be saved?" It can still be saved by the big clubs. Let them come to the aid of our organisa- j tions, and Rhondda football will recover I its lost prestige. I am not afraid of Northern Unionism, but there is nO1 ignoring the fact that The Association Code I is making great headway. If amateur Rugby is to become extinct it will be a slow process, but the big clubs have it ill their power to preserve it. I do not think we shall proceed any further on the downward path this season, at all events, so that there is ample time for the senior organisations to do the right thing." And now what do you think is going I to be, the effect of the Eight Hours Act I on football in the valleys?" It is bound to have some adverse effect. If the men do not come up out of the pits till two o'clock it stands to I reason that the matches must start late, and in the short days of midwinter this I will' be a serious matter. However, 11 believe in some cases the employers have 1 met the men, and are willing to do their I best to remove the difficulty, but where °11 1.. the management win mase no conces- sions then the position will be an awkward one, I fear. When the shorter days arrive we shall be able to appreciate what the actual effect of the Act is."

MR.ACK LLEWELLIN CHEERFULJ There was a note more of optimism than of pessimism in the tone of Mr. Ack Llewellin when I discussed the matter (continues Pendragon"). "I think we are making an advance now," said he. There is a distinct improvement this season over the past few years. Things are very promising." "What about the Pontypridd Club?" It will take them some time to build up a sound team, but I think we shall have a very good side here after a time. There is every prospect of the club being stronger than it has been for a number of years. It is now in good hands, and the committee are very enthusiastic." And as to the other clubs?" Mountain Ash are bound to do we- I with their new ground. It is splendidly situated. Trcorky, also, I feel certain, will be a good club, and so likewise should Penygraig, now that they have got their old ground back. As I say, I believe there. will be a big improvement this winter over the past few seasons. I think,the tide has turned." "Eight Hours Act going to make any difference ?" It is hard to say just yet. The clubs themselves think it won't affect them much, but I Have My Doubts. I It's the short days of midwinter which will tell the tale." And, then, as to the progress of Soccer?" Personally, I don't think that Soccer is going to last. They are too ambitious. By joining the Southern League their expenses will be enormous. If they worked in a reasonable way there is no doubt they would get on well. Their pro- grammes are so immense, however, that it will take tremendous .expense. Then, as the clubs take bigger gates, so the players will demand bigger wages, while look at the journeys they have to make. Their ambition will kill them."

MR. TOM WILLIAMS HOPEFUL Like Mr. Ack Llewellin, a favourable i view of the situation was taken by Mr. Tom Williams, of Llwynypia. "Is there decadence?" he asked. "Well, I suppose there is from the old days. We don't seem to get the players now that we did. We don't get the, Rhondda type of forward—for the Rhondda forward is a type. We don't get men like Jack Evans, D. Rliapps, Dai Evans, Dick Hellings, Harry Jones, and so on. They were big, strong chaps. Neither are our clubs nearly so good as they were. However, I am hopeful of the situation. In Pontypridd I -believe we shall have a very good club this year. They have an excellent committee." "And the others?" Llwynypia say that they are going to have a good season, and Treorky re bound to be strong, because they have all the same men that they had last yea", I At Penygraig also there is an air of confi- dence with regard to the present season." Then you, I gather, are very hopeful of the Rhondda Rugby football this winter ?" Yes, I am very hopeful." "Tha t about the inroads of Soccer?" T'hat is real. It ie here. and it is the greatest thing we have to fear. The game has come to stay, but I don't see why the two codes should not be success- ful. As to the Northern Union game, I have never been afraid of that." Apart from the apparently certain prospect of a revival of amateur Rugby, what would you assign as the cause of the decadence that has, undoubtedly, taken place in the past few years?" Good Fixtures Lacking. I think the principal cause has been the lack of variety in the play of the Rhondda teams. The absence of good fixtures has had more to do with it than anything. You see, our teams play more or less the same kind of game, and there has been altogether too much forward play. Everlasting humdrum scrimmaging caused people to get tired of Rugby. If they had been able to see more of first- class back play they would not have got tired. Take the old days, when Llwyn- ypia had that great team, and when they | had to play the local ellibs all the time. People wanted to see them pitted against j something better, and, of course, they were capable of meeting the best teams in the country. They beat Gloucester twice that season—the only two occasions on which they were beaten. I remember Percy Stout, the English international, clapping Willie Llewellyn on the bacK when he scored his third try igainst them. Gloucester on a Thursday drew a I £ 60 gate here." The Eight Hours Act. What is going to be the effect of the new Eight Hours Act?" "I am dreading the effect it is going! to have. The clubs themselves don't think it is going to interfere much, hut I don't believe they have grasped he position. It is not only going to inter- fere with the attendances, but with the players. What about when the teams have to go away? If the men want to go they will have to lose a day's work, and you can't expect them to do that. Everywhere in this valley the working hours are from six till two o'clock, but even that is not good enough. How can men go home, have their lunch and change, and be on the field by three o'clock, especially on pay days, when 'another hour or so is absorbed?" Mr. Williante concluded with a hope that the Llwynypia United Cub would be resuscitated. "There has been a mis- understanding about the ground," he said,' "to the effect that it would be wanted for building, but it will not be wanted just yet. Hence I am hopeful that efforts will be made to re-establish 'the club." the club.

BRYNMAWR MENACED. "There is probably no place in South Wales where the operation of the Eight Hours Act will have a greater effect upon both players and spectators than vt Brynmawr." This is the emphatic opinion of Mr. Jack Da vies, the secretary of tne local club. The collieries are a con- siderable distance away from the town, and it is impossible for the men to reach their homes until after three o'clocK. I After the 1st of November we are com- pelled by league rule to kick-off at that hour, so that, whether we are playing at home or away, it will mean that our men will have to lose a day's work. Candidly, I think the Act is a serious menace to amateur football, and it is to be hoped that some arrangement will shortly be made whereby two hours extra can be worked during the week in order that the men might finish at twelve on Saturdays." Mr. W. G. Morgan, chairman of the Brynmawr Club, said the Act would con- siderably reduce the attendance of spec- tators, at football matches in all colliery districts, but more so at Brynmawr than anywhere else. In many places the col- liers went straight from their work to a football ground, but few would care to risk doing so at Brynmawr, which was one of the coldest spots in South Wales. It was impossible for men to reach their homes before three o'clock, and by the time they changed and got to the ground the matches would be nearly over. "As for the players, said Mr. Morgan, "it will mean that everyone engaged in a colliery will have to lose a day's work for all matches, and you know what that will mean in the long run. I think P he Welsh Union ought to take up the matter in real earnest. My committee already see that owing to the Act they will have serious diiffculties to face."

ABERBARGOED DISAGREES, Mr. W. J. Ellis, secretary of the Aber- bargoed senior Rugby team, the oldest in the valley, expressed the opinion that the Eight Hours Act w as advantageous, a-nd not disadvan- t a geous, to foot- ballers, for bhe simple reason that ithe majority of col- lieries finished on Saturday at the "ame time now as prior to the coming into operation of the Eight Hours Act, while the col- lieries finished much earlier in the week days than before. This enabled them when desired to play a match on any week day without any inconvenience whatever. This could not be done before. He totally disagreed with most of the sentiments of "Forward" in the "Foot- ball Express," especially in regard to players having to lose work on Saturday when playing away. There was nothing new in that, said Mr. Ellis. Nine out of every ten players lost a day's work when playing away on Saturday be*, or" the Eight Hours Act. As far as the spectators are concerned, the conditions are the same in most cases now as before, except where the conditions are better, as some collieries which formerly finished at three o'clock on Saturday, now finish at two o'clock, hence the advantage.

MID-WEEK ADVANTAGES. I By ERNIE N03THC0TE, I .SECBET YBY OF BARGOED InGlY CLUB AXP | OLD BOYS' LEAGUE. I I read the remarks of "Forward" in his article in the "Football Express" of last Saturday evening, but I totally dis- agree with him that the Eight Hours Act has (or will cause) apytning like the trouble that he has foreshadowed. The introduction of this Act will prove advantageous to the smaller clubs, par- ticularly in the mining districts. Local teams can now play off their matches in mid-week without losing time. Under the old regime those players who worked in the collieries invariably had to lose a turn for the away matches, and these players will be put to no hardship to do the same this season. By being able to play off marches in mid-week the extra gates are likely to be good ones, as the shop assistants will be enabled to see good Thursday matches. All our teams rely on home gates and, as the colliers are all out of the pit at two o'clock, I do not anticipate any reduction in the gates. A great point to be considered is that the league table can now be completed in one season, instead of carrying the final matches into the next season.

"FORWARD" (00 PESSIMISTIC By REES JONES, SECRETARY OF THE Y11NEY VALLEY LEAGUE. "Forward," in his article of Saturday last, seems inclined to take a pessimistic view regarding the football of the future. He sees difficulties where none exist, ani I cannot refrain from asking him whether he wants to encourage professionalism. Is he in favour of Northern Unionism? The crop of difficulties he anticipates! exist but in his own mind, for the Eight Hours Act, instead of being disadvan- tageous to Rugby football in the valleys, is more likely co be beneficial to local clubs. Last season the colliers finished on Saturdays at two p.m., and since the introduction of the Eight Hours Act all the colliers are out of the pit at two 'o'clock. This is quite early enough for all the home matches, and, as regards the away matches, the majority of the players lost a turn last season in order to get away in reasonable time. I believe that all true lovers of the sport will do I the same this season. I. I anticipate no trouble through the introduction of the Act, and the great advantage I see is that the colliers can now see mid-week matches without losing a turn, as they nnish at two o'clock every day of the week.

ROATH PARK WINNERS IN SCHOOLBOY SPORTS. TOM WILLIAMS, CHAS. COLEMAN, IVOR ALSOP. GEO. GUNN, VICTOR JAMES, 31'1d. 100 yaoxls (9). 1st, Junior Dispatch. 3rd, 100 yards (10—11). 1st, Junior Dispatch. 2nid, Three-legged. 4th, Sack R-ace. 5th, 100 yards (10-11). "WILLIE LEWIS, HORACE EVANS, CHAKLES. OR AM, LEOTARD THOMAS, TREVOR ROBERTS, 100 yards handdmp. 1st, Victoria. Cross Race, 4th, 100 yards (10-11). 5th, 100 yaixls (9—10). 6th, 100 yards (10-11). 1st, Junior Dispatch. JACK JONES. PERCY WEBB, MIRYS MATHIAS, RONALD JONES, STANLEY HARRIS, 6th. 100 yards (9—10). 3rd, 100 yards 11-12). let, Jtumor Dispatch. 5th, 100 yards- (9). 2nd. 100 yards (9). let, Jnnioir Dispatch. 2nd, Three-Aeg^ed. W. OOlrEMAN. JOHN HARMER, REG. NASH, WILLIE OLDHAM, WHARTON WOZENGROFT. 1st. Senior Dispatch. let, Senior Dispa>tch. let, Senior Dispatch. 1st, Senior Dispatch. tod, 100 yairdB (9—10). 100 vajdff(li2—13). 2nd, Jnmle. &th, Sao.ya-rde.

PHIL RCKALANBPS, Caerphilly, is looked upon as a most promising three-quarter. He is only nineteen yeaTS of age, of sturdy build, a daring tackier, a good kick. and possesses exceptional dash, and is a product of the Caerphilly schools.

ROATH PARK SCHOOL SHIELDS r ¡ TOP ROW (left to rigrht): Half-mile Cup. St. David's Shield. 100y,d,s. Ohampdon«hip Cup. I BOTTOM: Johini Studt. Shield for Novelty I dispatdh.

E. E. WATKINS, of Abergavenny, who was the most distinguished three-quarter on the Newport ground in the practice games last Saturday, might well be encouraged with more work. In ease of emergencey he might Jiot ionly play three-quarter but outside half, as Newport as less reserve there tkan thaBi^seaeoa,

IINJURIOUS IN ONE RESPECT Mr. P. H. Llewellyn, chairman of the Rhymney Valley Rugby League, in an interview, said the Eight Hours Act would be injurious in the valley in one respect, viz., that the management would not allow players to ascend the pit early to go and play. The conditions were more stringent than before. Otherwise, however, the Act was beneficial to foot- ball, and, in cases where the manage- imelic. or companies were in sympathy with the winter pastime, and even pro- moters of it, players were privileged to come out in time to go to play. In most pite operations ceased at the same time on Saturday as under the old system. flayers had to lose time to go away then, as they will have to now. Th+, advan- tage of the Act was that they could.piay a game when they liked.

I ABtRTILLERY ALL RIGHT. The effect of the Act upon the working men players at AbertiHery will, appa- rently, not cause any great difficulty. as Abertillery are in the fortunate position, Irom a playing sense, of having the whole of the pits where their players are engaged within a few minutes' walk of the town, and as the men are at present working from six a.m. until two p.m., it is quite possible for them to get to their homes ajid turn out ready for the fray by three o'dock on Saturday. This information was con,,zea to our representative by one of the leading omciais of the AbertiMery club, who also said, when questioned in regard to getting off for away matches, that the colliery owners in that district were pre- pared to allow the men to leave the pits at 10.30 a.m., and he thought that that arrangement would do away with their 'I difficulties altogether.

PONTYPOOL PARLOUS I In Pontypool the effect of the Act upon I both players and spectators is likely to prove serious. The majority of the large collieries are working from seven a.m. until three p.m., and to make matters still worse from a football stand- point, they are all situated two or three miles from the town. so that it is impos- sible for either players or spectators to reach the grounds very much before five I o clock, ihis has been apparent on the last two Saturdays, when the crowd of spectators was by no means large and several of the selected players failed to put in an appearance. The kick-off also was delayed until about 5.30 p.m. Questioned by our representative, Mr. J C. Greening (secretary) stated that they had already made an application to several colliery proprietors to allow the players to leave the pits early. The request, however, had met with a refusal, but a further attempt was to be made to obtain that concession. "Of course, if we fail," he added, "it will be all up with November and Decem- r ber matches, which have to be commenced about three o'clock, unless the Welsh Union can bring some influence to bear upon the employers of labour."

IMAESTEG "TRUSTS TO LUCK. The committee of the Maesteg Football Club met on Monday night, and were interviewed by our correspondent with regard to the difficulties which confront them since the advent of the Miners' Eight Hours Act. No particular scheme has been decided upon, and they will have to get the players to consent to lose a day occasionally, or approach the colliery officials to allow the players to leave their work in time to take part in the matches. Some of the local men leave work at 2.30. whilst others do not leave until three o'clock. So it will be impossible for home or away matches to be played in anything like proper time. In the committee- men's own words they will have to "trust to luck." Premier football in the Llynvi Valley was never at a lower ebb than at present, everything seeming to work against them.

I Cardiff Roxburghs. I A FINE SPORTING TEAM. The fixtures of the Cardiff Roxburghs feir this season aire a. certain indicatio-i of the enhanced and cotntinue-d popularity of this club. The membership, already large, pro- mises this sea-aon to be cumbersome and to render necessary the formation of a secono. fifteen. Old members are enthusiastically awaiting the 2nd of October, when the sea- son will be opened wdth a match against Birehgrove. The playing strength of the tea-m has greatly increased, and the Cardiff premiers will be advised to keep their eye upon many promising youngsters. Mr. R. H. CfflHll1 seems likely to be a popular and caipable captain, whilst Mr. E. C. Morgan Willmott resumes his old duties as hon. secretary. Mr. T. H. Griffiths has been re- elected president, whilst Mr. F. Nash, is treasurer. A general meeting will be held on the 20th inst. Mr. T. Evana, of the Reserves, will assist his odd clu'b on occasions. The increase in the s-ubsoriptiion is a comment upon the determination of the club to ma.inta.in in the strictest sense the best sporting ideaJs of the good old game, and the handsome reputation the club has gained by bieng most generally • known as "the best sporting clit-b in South Wales." It must not be forgotten to state that the "Rox" will again this year do a little for sweet eha-nity, a fixture having been arranged for the mid-season with a fifteen captained by Mr. Percy Bush. This is likely, to become a -very popular annual. The "Rox" feel, with the confidence of an. old-establisbed club, the necessity of point- ing out to the powers that be'that with the increasing march- of professionalisim in South Wales care must be taken, to foster the d of player which this clwb is yearly pro- ducing. Good "captures" are Harold Flum- mer, of Newport, and several other good men. To use a platitude, a very attractive list df. fixtures have been arranged, including the following away matches — October 23—Monmouth Grammar Sohool. Octo,ber 50—Pan teg. November 6-Penath Seconds. November 20—Abergavenny. Decemher 11—London Customs. Boxing I>ay—Brixham (Devon). FetM-msry 19-London WeJsh Seconds. December 4-TIleodevic's, Port Talbot. ■Matcnes are also being arranged in Bir- mingham and Bristol. Of course, the "Rox," as uswal, will conclude with a QontanesitaJ tour at Easte-r-a more- elaborate one, extending over a week. Bdarritz will again be visited. The annual subscription hae been raised to half a guinea, and the secretary takes this opportunity of reminding old members that it is now due. ROBERT H. GVNN, the captain of the Cardiff is an Intermediate Old Boy and played hockey and Soccer at school, but played Rugby as kloon as he left. He joined the Roxburgh Club when it was st-arted, and played centre for a time, but has since played forward. He played for the Australians against North Glamorgan on December 24 at Merthyr. He was the organiser and manager of the Boxburghs' la.st tour in the South of France, and was presented with a silver cigarette case from the members of the team as a memento. As a suanmer pastimae he goes in for tennis, and has been a member of the Mackintosh Tennis Club for the Last three yea*rs, during which time be his played regularly for the first team. In the Pembrokeshire WiIrnaanent. at Fiiftuwd last ^ea^.ibe vioc

IMY- FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT. THE MATCH WITH HOCK KEYES. BY FRED WELSH- JUST BEFORE THE FIGHT WITH HOCK. To make it understood what my first championship fight meant to me, I must say that at the time the opportunity came to me I looked upon myself as an undergraduate in th school of fighting. I wasn't afraid of the man I was to fight; I wasn't even then afraid of any man, but I was doubtful of the distance I had to go. Twenty rounds! and I had never gone more than ten. Could I last? Hock Keyes, the champion of Aus- tralia, was the man. He had come from Australia with such a reputation that he could find no man in the western section of the States willing to take him on so had been forced to the Atlantic Coast for a match. The first man he met was, Amby M'Garry, then known as the champion of New York. He had defeated him after a sensational battle of tw.en.ty rounds..After that he had met Young Erne, one of the best men in the East, and had won from him in six rounds. On bhe other hand, I had had a six- round bout with Young Erne, and had attracted a great deal of notice by beat- ing him very thoroughly. Another good man I had met and beaten was Matty Baldwin, but that was in a six-round bout too. I had fought two ten-round bouts and had stayed through them, beating my men. But twenty rounds are more than two ten-round bouts—at any rate, they seem so. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity, and never even whispered my doubts to anybody but, whether I whispered them or kept them close in my own breast, the doubts were there, and from the time the match was made till I stepped into the ring I wondered if I could go the distance. J This may seem strange to one who does not know what the strain is of those r three-minute rounds, with only ore minute of rest between. There are hundreds of good boxers who can go the six-round distance at lightning speed, but who go to pieces under the strain of fifteen or twenty rounds. And no one knows whether or not he can do it until he has tried. One of the first signs of deterioration in a boxer is his inability to go the full distance. The papers at the time of the fight were all concerning tlhemselve about which of us was the better fighter, and it was so generally believed that Keyes was my superior that at the last the betting was 3 to 1 on Him. I, on the other hand, did not trouble myself about that. I always go into the ring with respect for the man I am to fight. I always prepafe carefully, fight cautiously until I know my man, and only when I do know him do I let myself loose," as the phrase is. No, I was not worrying about Keyes; I was asking myself the one terrible question, Can I go the distance? I always think Philadelphia was respon- sible for my state of mind. No long fights are permitted there, but on'ly six- round, no-decision bouts. At the same time, the city is full of lovers of the sport, and the result is that a very peculiar style of boxing bout has com. into existence there. A slow, careful boxer is not tolerated; the two men He expected to get into the ring and fight furiously from start to finish. The best I Ifcys from all over America go to Phila- delphia to try themselves out. It may be said to be the national school of box- ing. And one may always be sure that a graduate of that school will give a good account of himself. On the other hand., a diploma from that school carries with it. i)o assurance that the holder is good for more than the six rounds to which he has been accustomed. Perhaps if I had not been so concerned about going the distance I might -ia%-e worried a little about the fighting ability of the champion of Australia. I might have reflected that it would become a i mere novice to have a little fear of a man who had been side-stepped by fighters like Jimmy Britt, then at his best, and Battling Nelson, who was already chim- ing the light-weight championship of the world. We were to fight for a purse of £7.30, to be divided equally between us; and I don't, mind confessing that it looked a very large sum of money to me at. that time. I had just been fighting my way up from a poorly-paid preliminary boxer to a not overpaid fiaal one, and mon y was a very scarce commodity with me. In fact, I had been seeing some of my hardest times, and not so very long before this championship match, with its marvellous purse, ] had had to "carry the banner." as the phrase was, in Phila- delplila--ill other words, I had more than once been I Forced to Walk the Streets all night through snow or rain because I had not money enough to pay for the cheapest bed. It is not so long ago now, but I have a very vivid recollection of how in those days I used to put my little green trunks and my boxing shoes in my pockets when I visited the clubs on light nights, in the hope that OllllP of the boxers billed wouid fail to appear and that T would be called on to take his place. I was always fit and ready in those days. I didn't dissipate, and I couldn't iaire over-eaten if I hltd wanted to for lack of means. I was already doing better when the chance came to fight Keyes, but I had never in my life made such a stupendous sum as was assured me then. And I may say that it was only because not very much was expected of me that I was to get such a big share of the purse. Young Erne was to have fought Keyes for the championship, but when Keyes defeated him in the six-round bout Erne's manager was afraid to risk the twenty- round battle, and so came to me with the offer. He fully expected me to lose to Keyes, and did not relish the idea of the small sum that would come to him as his percentage if I received a small loser's end of the money, so he demanded that the purse be divided evenly. It was a pity he had not had as much confidence in me as I had in myself and let the purse be divided in the usual way. At the time, however, I was perfectly satisfied, for it looked to me as if a fortune was ) in sight. It was an enormous stride upward for me.. I was to fight a man with an inter- national reputation I was to fight for a championship I was to fight for a purse. The importance of fighting for a purse will not be recognised until it is known that in Philadelphia the boxers know to a penny what they are to receive for fighting. There are no purses and no side stakes. On this side of the water it is believed that side -stakes and a big winner's end of the purse are essential to ensure a serious contest,but the condi- tions in Philadelphia prove that this is not so. Boys who are the best of friends —room mates, perhaps-will meet in the ring and fight like fiends for fixed sums of money, and defeat leaves neither anger nor bitterness in its wake. I Had Only Five Days in which to prepare for my fight; but that was not a serious matter to me, for, as I have said, I was always in condition at that time—at any rate, I was always in condition to go six fast rounds. It was seldom that I didn't fight once a week, and frequently I had the luck to climb through the ropes three times a week. However, I did all the special training possible under the circumstances, and when the hour came was fit enough. We fought at Dayton, Ohio, on July 27, 1906. I weighed 9st. 4Jb. he weighed 9st. 71b. We were both in as good condition as we knew how to be. I have learned a great deal about training since that time, and would know now how- to improve on what was then my best condition; but, at any rate, my ivind was good, I felt strong, and I was fast. I looked over my man as he isat in his corner, and I looked him over again when he had discarded his robe and sat waiting for the sound of the gong. He looked what he was—a good man f but I lost none of my confidence. I did not forget his record nor his reputation, but I remembered that I had given Erne a worse beating than he had. No; I felt neither nervousness nor doubt about him I was troubled only by that awful doubt about staying through twenty rounds. I had seen men so tired by the fifteenth or sixteciith rounds as to be utterly unable to lilt their hands up. and then be beaten or knocked about by men they could have made to look foolish in a six-round bout. That is what I was afraid of- If you can call it fear—and I studied Keyes, wondering if it would happen to me that I would tire so that my hands would be to httfvy to hold up, and so give him the chance to measure his distance with his left arm so that lie coukl bring over his right to the Point of My Undefended Chin. I don't know what he was thinking about me, but he couldn't have had much of an opinion of my prowess, since nobody supposed I had a living chance of any- thing but a good beHting. Three to one are heavy odds, and yet that was the way the boxing experts, t h bethng men, esti- mated my cliances. What was I to do? What was my best plan of action r Should I go in in the Philadelphia fashion and push matters irom the nr-st stroke of the gong, in the hope that he, being unused to that style of lighting, would be beaten? But he had beaten Young Erne, the Human Flash," as he was called. at that very game. Yes, but I had beaten the 1. lliimaii Flash" also, so there was nothing convincing in that, after all. Why net trust myself entirely;" Why not feel him out for a round or two, and then., as they say in the States, "cut loose"? It was my first. opportunity to really plan a battle in advance, but I could not bear the thought of going in haphazard, lighting as a brute beast would do. 1 had wits and meant to make them serve me. The papers the next day said the first round was a fast one. it renlly was not, chough we did some of the quick sparring that always looks good to the spectator. Keyes was measuring me, just as I was measuring him, and we must have come to something like the same conclusion, for w hen the second round opened we went at each other in true Philadelphia. style. The main difference between us was that he was eager to punish me about the head. while I bent all my energies to landing on the body, with especial atten- tion to the stomach. Perhaps he thought my head my weakest part, while i paid him the compliment of believing his stomach weaker than his head. I had no notion oi what wa.s in store for me after 1 had gone the length of the Philadelphia route, and I I Waited With Some Anxiety for the seventh round to come. I abated nothing of my speed, however, for I had made up my mind to keep on going with all my might until I could go no longer. The seventh round passed and the eighth followed. I can't describe how I felt when I knew there were several more rounds of the same sort still in me. I wasn't weak; I wasn't wearing out. I could still get in and strike my blow and then get out again before Keyes could reach me. It was Keyes who was weaken- ing. I exulted. I wasn't thinking of my antagonist at all, but only of the fact that I could go the distance and go it as swiftly as if it were only six rounds. I was sure of it now. The consciousness was like the fabicd I elixir of life to me. I think I was even ?reckk- of my strength. I sbrted the ninth round ?s if I had only begun; and now I jabbed and hooked his head as often as I landed on his body. I knew, as I could see by his eyes, that he knew that he was beaten already. But he was game and clever, and it was not until the seventeenth round that he was virtually knocked out. His seconds threw the sponge into the ring to save their man -from being counted out. Seven had been counted over him once in that round,, and it was being counted again, whet the sponge came in token of admittet defeat. I was champion of Australia: but more than all, I knew I was able to gc twenty rounds without trouble. Sincerely yours.

MR. WILFRED BRADSIIAW, the new presi- dent of the Bridgend Football Club, is a keen sportsman and enthusiastic supporter of Rugby. He has been connected with the Bridgend Club for 22 years, bas held the offices of secretary and treasurer, and was [Photo, E. Lott, Bridgend. last yeaT a vice-president and chairman of both match and general committees. He is also one of the auditors of the Glamorgan Coumty Club. In business he is manager for Messrs. Sheppard and Sons, engineers, of Brid.gend, from whose works a number of the players are invariably drawn.

LLEW THOMAS, Pontlottyn Southend, is doubtless one of the mo-It promising youngsters in the Ehymney Valley. He is a sure shot. BROWN. GOLDSMITH, ajid TAGH will form a splendid thalf-back line 'for Ebbw Vale, a,nd as long as the Valiams can co-mmand their servicce there will be no need to look further afield. Ta-gg is al-ready in fine fettle. FREDDIE WELSH when he was in the States boasted the vegetarian business sky high, and the restauraimt keepers belonging to the cult have recognised this fact and have with one accord plaeec1 Freddie on the per- h maneotb fceeJlisst.

r Welshmen Up North. I BY OUR N.U. CORRESPONDENT, I Toe -muguy outlook in South w ales is eageriy watched by Weish Northern Union players. If it happened t.hat a professional body was formed in Wales what a rush of players there would be to get hack home, of course, pro- vdding it were a distinct body from the pre- fOe-ut Northern Union. One thing is certain, that the present Northern Union rules would appeal to the Welsh temrperament, as scrimmaging is almost done away with, and the game is very open. WMaes for the first time beat Batley last Saturday. Watotie Davies, as usual, played a good game, and did all the scoring for his side, scoring tso tries and kicking two goals. It is surprising how Wattie keeps hie form. The Batley forwards were beaten by the lighter Widnes pack, and failed to briag off the terrific rushes for which they are noted. Bevan, the old Mountain Ash man, is play- for the Batley Reserves, to get himself in the pink of condition. Bevan, on form, is a good half-back, and can scarcely be kept out of the side. By the way, Will Davias is still an I absentee. Dces he intend playing for the Mount Pleasant teajm again The form shown by Huddersfleld against Broughtoln Rangers denotes that they will he the best Yorkshire side this season. Their display gave great satisfaction to the Fartowners, and has given a great impetus to the game in the district. It should be aI very pleasing to the hard-working committee Of the club, who have spared no efforts to get a strong team together. The four Colonial players-Wrigl.ey, Eosenfelt, Trevarthen, and Wialeh—gave a fine display, and, along with Jim Davies, were the best players on the field The appearance of Batten in the Hunslet side at Parkside st.imul-ated the team to g-ive a fine display. The Hunslet club has shown good sense in coming to terms with so smart a player-a remark that cannot be made of some of the Northern Union clubs. Hull Kingston Rovers played a fine open game against Treherbert, and Alf. Mann played in great style. Phil Thomas was amongst the scorers, and Hughes, late Neath, played a good game. Merthyr gave Halifax a good game at Thrutm Hall last fcacuixlay, and the score in no way represents /.he game. Their forwards played a great game, and fairly beat the Halifax six, and will, no doubt, give the blue and whites more than they bargain for when they meet in the return match at Merthyr. Morley was Halifax's best forward. Kccles scored a fine try, and played a good game, while Billy Williams met with more than his match in Wyndham Davies. Wil- liams is always prolix to kick when he has to best an opponent, and this fault was greatly apparent against Merthyr. Ward gave a good exhibition at full-back. The Mer- thyr team, as a whole, played well, and with a few good three-quarters wouild rank amongst the best Northern Union teams. 0'Nieil's Dispute. It is pleasing to note O'Neill's dispute re employment has been settled by tW elirb, and he will be available for the next matches. In Thomas, Shugars, and O'Neill, W.arri.o.gton have a great trio of forwards. O'Mai Ley, t.he best of the Kangaroo forwards, turned out for the Wirepullers against Rochdale last Saturday, and played in fine style. Jack Jftaih, despite bds.jrait&ifigr on flesh, played a "CHICK" JENKINS I (Etobw Yaue Northern Union Football Club). I grand game, and is yet the finest English wing three-quarter playing football. Leeds caused a surprise by beating Hull on the Boulevard Ground last Saturday. Baun.' dtirs, the WeJ.sh,Le.oos half-back, scored a try, and Frank Young played a safe game for the Headingiey team at full-back. The Leeds for- v arde did a lot towards the winning of the match, and there can be no doubt as to their being one of the best forward sides in the II I urlon. Reg. Jones has not played well of late. He should have plenty of chances behind the Is forwards. In the oajjiuie < f. Rowe, the all black three-quarter, the Leeds committee must be complimented, and have I shown, in thds instance, at a.ny rate, fine judgment. Wakefield Trinity beat Wigtan at. Belle I Vue last Saturday. Howell Francis played a good game for the visitors, and was the lœder in many a rush. The Wi?m backs did not play well, and it will be weH fcr  the club to be on the 'look out for a few good three-quarters, as the backs isho, signs of decadence. Bennett. for Trinity, made the Wigan defence look very weak, as he r.aced in from half-way wiith a try. and the I Wakefield wing cannot be regarded as speedy. The Wakefield forwards had rather the better of the argument. ) Sid Adams, akhoush he gave OMh?ai three  points, was the means of SalforcVs fine ?in I against Oldham at The Willows last riatnr- j day. He scored a. fine try, in which his! strength served him well, anu won the Reds! the match. Dal Rees played a st reus game in the Reds' forward line, his basiling! tactics, aknig with Buckler, upsetting the -Oldham backs considerably. LiWle John j played his usual safe game. For Oldham I Tom Llewellyn did not show form, and gave one the impression of having lost a lot of i epeed. Turtill, the All Black, played a very safe game for St. Helens a-gainst ■ Runcorn last Saturday. Oreevey, their wing three-quarter, also played in fine form, and, seeing that I Wigan transferred him recently to St. j Helens, one wonders why he was allowed to leave t!he Central Park team, j Dewsbury, who, with a few other clubs, are trying to secure the transfer of! their old player,"Dai Thomas, played a fine! bustling game against Bnamtey last Sat nr-! day. The Crown Flatt's team poa%%s a great 1\ paok of forwards, and with ? ?oo?ple of good-j class backs would be a power in Northern | Union foot-bail. Will Eagers, the old Hunslet. centre, played one of his best games against Be. rrvw rit Birch Lane last Saturday. He scored a try in grand style. lie, along with Archie Rigg, is doing great things for the Birch team, and Rigg haw shown his Halifax friends that his career is by no means finished, and the form he has sli<;wn would be a grean, help to the Thrnm liall team, even in the present time. There can be no denying the fact that ihe- along with Eagers, has 'been the moajiz of grmtln- improving the Birch Ija-ne team.

MERTHYR. If Merthyr fell away somewhat in the later stages of their encounter with Halifax a while ago, 4 hey created an excellent. impression on ItL1(;\r first appearance before. a Thrum Halil crowd. The determined dash of the forwards in open play chiefly diti- tinguished operations, and led by D. B. Davies, Dan Lewis, and Norris, good work was accomplished. Indeed, this was the out- standing feature of Merihyr's display throughout. The advantage gave W, Harris the opportunity to open the scoring, and the subsequent try awarded to "yo,tt Reed, who was wilfully obstructed with the line at his mercy, was the outcome of a tine frontal attack. What told against Merthyr considerably, despite their splendid stand, was the fact, that they made the journey to Halifax on I Friday night, and. although the team were I able to tak-e a few -hours' rest on their arrival, they were not sufficiently recovered to give of their best. Ned Rees, tic ex-Mid- Rhondda half-back, and Alfred Charles, who has returned to his native town after assist- ing Rochdale, were introduced into the side to good purpose, and with Wyatt Reed, r Wyndham Davies (who possesses a smart turn of speed), and Paddi.son, put up a stout defence. The visit of TRigh Shamrocks, whom Merthyr encountered on Monday la"t at P,hy)dyear, was productive of a fair exhibi- tion. It was evident that the Shamrocks had a sound knowledge of the game, even if they did not rank iu the first flight, and some of their movements were artfully conceived. Their forwards played a hard game to the finish, and against Kilcy and Kelly, who operated at half, the home pair, Harris add Xed Eees, did not have things all their own way. The win of Merthyr by 21 points to 7 was substantial, but on the day's play there was not that difference between the sides. A week hezicv Merthyr will journey North to encounter Swinton, and the task they nave set themselves, to meet the famous ijions in their den, is a stiff one..

TREHERBERT. lrenemert opened th,' t'('}/<Qn against one of the strangest. Northern combi n<at-ions— litill Kingston Rovers who put up a sco-re of 5.2 points to 10. Treherbert are to be con- giatiil-ated on such a. creditable perform* ance, which predicts a. more successful season than last. However, the backs can became more aggressive, and the forwards can put more vim into their play. In -the ,criims the home pack were beaten, but nn short rushes they proved very fine Mann, Sand'ham, and Spackman W(>I>e three great forwards, whilst J. Thomas and Gallo way were slightly superior to their col- leagues. Although most of the Treherbert players showed strong defensive capabilities, there, were one or two Who did not tackle their men properly. Treherbert have signed on two ex-Mid- Ehondda players—Stanley Bevan and J Rees. Ttie former played a. very hard gam. last Saturday, whilst J. Rees shou<ld prove very bandy man, as he oa-n pfoy in aw posit ion among tbe backs.

first in the mixed doubles and was third in the open singles. In the Cardiff aeoooin- tants walk some years ago he won first R. H. GUNN. I (sealed handicap), and also the medal for doing the distance in the time limit. Age, 22; height, 6ft. (and a bit); wfagbt, 12st. 81b.