Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 29 July 1899, page 214


FIELD SPORTING

International Football.

THE SECOND TEST MATCH. By "Player."

The second test football match, England v. Australia, was played on the Exhibition Ground on Saturday afternoon, in the pre-sence, of the largest gathering that ever

witnessed a similar contest in Queensland. Shortly before 3 o'clock the crush at the gates was tremendous, but in time all got inside, and lined the ground around the ring many scores deep, densely packed. Every available space on the grandstand and enclosure was occupied. It is estimated that at least 15,000 persons were present, and nearly the whole of this vast con-course, including the large proportion of ladies present, watched the game with the keenest interest from beginning to end. The following are the names of the teams, with their respective places on the field :— ENGLAND. C. E. K. Thompson. G. F. Doran, E. G. Nicholls, A. B. Tlmms, H. G. Gray. C. Adamson. Cookson. Judklns. Gibson. Ayre-Smith. B. I. Bwannell. Evers. M. Stout. T. M'Gown. J. W. Jarman. W. H. Taaner. .C. S. Graham. C. Ellis. H. Marks. P. Carew. A. C. Corfe. R. Challinor. N. Street E. Currie. P. Ward. W. Evans. T. Spragg. A. Henry. T. Ward. R. M'Cowan. AUSTRALIA. Punctually to time the Australian team, attired in the maroon jerseys—Queensland's colours—bearing a handsome badge, emble-matical of the Australian coat of arms, took the field, and assembled in front of the grandstand. The Englishmen followed closely in their wake, and as they emerged on to the field the Australian team gave them three hearty cheers. Both teams were enthusiastically received by the spec-tators. Stout, the English captain, won the toss from M'Cowan, who had been unanimously elected to fill a similar position for the Australian team, and, taking advantage of the strong north-easterly wind that was blowing, defended the Bowen Hills goal. Ellis set the ball in motion, Thompson re-turning out at half-way. From the scrum which followed the Englishmen dashed through with the ball at their toes. They were well stopped by P. Ward, who was forced out. Thrown in, Evans secured, and made a bad pass back, and Cookson, dashing in, kicked low past the English full-back. The same player, following up well, was on top of M'Cowan just as he saved. It was thus early seen that the visit-ors were determined to die fighting hard, and they were encouragingly cheered. P. Ward kicked off, Adamson returning to Currle, who mulled badly. The visitors were on to him in a trice, and a scrum took place on the Queensland line. Nicholls, Adamson, Stout, and Doran made several determined dashes, but they were unable to break through, Australia defending well. Currle eventually secured from the ruck, and relieved by a splen- did kick up the field. Thompson returned out at half. Thrown-ln, the ball was worked across the field, and Nicholls, picking up, essayed a ran, but was quickly smothered. His pass was nicely inter-cepted by Marks, who punted out at halfway. Thrown-in exchange kicks between Carrie and M'Cowan, and Thompson and Nicholls, resulted in the latter kicking out close to the Australians' line. P. Ward, how-ever, cleverly enabled Spragg to save. The New South Wales half-back threw the ball against Currle's legs, and as it bounded over the line Spragg saved. A clever piece of play. P. Ward kicked out, and Adamson failing to mark, Tanner and Carew worked the ball out at half-way. A scrum resulted from the throw-in. Currle secured, but sent a bad pass to P. Ward, who was downed by Gibson. The visitors, who were playing very determinedly, the combination of the forwards being very good, rushed the ball right on to the line. Gibson, Stout, and Jarman were putting in some fine work for the Englishmen. From a scrum on the Australian goal line Currie secured, and, punting over the heads of the forwards, en-abled Doran to mark. He placed for Adam- son, who made a good, but unsuccessful, kick at goal. M'Cowan saved. P. Ward kicked out again, the ball bounding out at half-way off Jarman. From the throw-in the Australian forwards dashed away, but the visitors quickly had the ball back. Cur-rie cleverly secured marks twice in succes-sion, and, for the first time during the match, the play was confined to the visitors' 25. The visitors, by good line play, quick-ly had it back at half-way. P. Ward then secured a mark, and by a capital kick sent the ball out in the visitors' 25. A free against Tanner came as a relief, and Adamson kicked out at halfway. The visitors dashed away from the throw-in, but a free to Australia stopped them. P. Ward kicked to Nicholls, who returned to M'Cowan, the latter kicking to Tlmms, who was downed. From the ruck Street and Marks broke away, and dribbled to the visitors' 25, where they were well stopped toy Doran. A grand passing rush between Currle, P. Ward, and Evans resulted In the latter getting over the line, but the ball was recalled. The excitement was now intense, as the Australians looked very dangerous. They were encouraged by the spectators to do their utmost. Nicholls, however, relieved by kicking out at half. A scrum resulted from the throw-in. Adam-son secured from the scrum, and one of the finest bits of passing ever seen in Brisbane took place. Adamson sent the ball to Cookson ; it was then passed on to Nicholls, then to Tlmms, and then to Gray, who was sent out at the local team's 25 flag. In play again, the Australian forwards, who were now warming up to their-work, rushed the ball into the Englishmen's 25. Here a scrum was formed, and Carrie, securing, sent

it to Ward, and then on to Evans, who punted high to the Englishmen's full-back. The latter failed to mark, and was at once surrounded. The Australians again looked dangerous, but Thompson, securing, kicked to M'Cowan, who dropped at goal, the ball going over the line. Thompson refused to save, and made a run out, being forced out at the 25 flag. In play again, the ball was kicked to M'Cowan, who picked up well, and ran to half-way, and then passed to Spragg, who, after dodging a couple of opponents, was forced out of touch. The ball was no sooner in than the Englishmen with it at their toes, Jarman, Gibson, and Stout showing out well, dashed down the field into the Australians' 25. The local men worked it back gradually to midfield by scrum play, but Nlcholls securing sent it out by a splendid punt at the Australians' corner flag. Thrown in, a series of scrums took place in front of the Australians' goal. A free to Australia was taken by Ward, but very llttle was gained. From a scrum Adamson secured, and passed to Cookson, to Nicholls, to Tlmms, and then to Gray, the latter being splendidly taken by Henry. The ball rolled' out. Thrown in, a scrum was formed, and Adamson securing made a splendid drop at goal, the ball just going outside the post. P. Ward kicked out. Adamson returned out at the Australian 25; By fine line play the visitors worked it closer to the Australians' line. Adamson threw it to Jarman, who made a great dash for the line, beating Spragg. As M'Cowan came at him he passed to Ayre-Smlth, who crossed the line amidst prolonged cheers. Adamson made a fine but unsuccessful klck at goal. Scores: England, 3 ; Australia, nil. Half-time was then called. The Englishmen so far had all the best of the game. Their play was very fine, and in marked contrast to that shown by them in their match against Queensland. SECOND HALF. On resuming. Stout kicked off, Carew re-turning out at half-way. A scrum resulted from the throw-in. Currie secured from the scrum, and, running round on the blind side, punted into the visitors' 25. Gray taking the ball on the bounce was immediately downed. The visitors broke through the scrum, and took the ball out near, the 25 flag. By nice line play the visitors worked it into the Aus- trallans' territory. Nicholls made a fine dash through the ruck, and was only brought down a few yards from the line. Timms, who followed up well, picked up, and made a fine drop at goal. M'Cowan saved. M'Cowan kicked off, Adamson returning out in the Australians' 25. In play again, Stout, Gibson, and Jarman made several fine dashes, but they could not succeed in breaking through the Austral-ian defence. Henry relieved by a timely kick-out at the 25 flag. Thrown in, the visitors, who were constantly on the aggressive, again rushed it on to the Australians' line, but a free against them enabled P. Ward to kick out at half-way. Not to be denied, the visitors, whose forwards were playing splendidly, rushed the ball into the Australians' 25. Nlcholls made a fine dash through the Australian backs and passed to Doran, who was hauled down on the line. From the scrum Adamson se-cured, and fairly battling his way over scored second try for his side. Adamson took the kick, which was a good but unsuc-cessful one. Scores : England, 6 ; Aus-tralia, nil. M'Cowan kicked out, the ball bouncing out at half-way. In play again, the Eng-lish forwards, with Stout, Ayre-Smith, and Jarman in the van. dashed up the field with the ball at their toes, but they were stopped by M'Cowan. A series of scrums took place close to the Australians' line. The ball was eventually kicked to Gray, who dropped at goal. M'Cowan refused to save, and kicked to Timms, who returned to Henry, the latter making a splendid re-turn, kicking out at midfield. From the throw-in the Australian forwards, rallying, dashed down the field, and for the first time during the second half had the visitors defending. A long kick by Currie to Thompson was mulled, and before the Eng-lish full-back could recover himself he was splendidly tackled by Ellis. Still on the aggressive, the Australians made several fine dashes, P. Ward, Evans, and Spragg showing out prominently. The visitors rally-ing, however, soon took the ball back to midfield, Adamson making a fine dribbling run. Henry secured, and kicked to Nicholls, who marked and kicked out at the Australians' 25. In play again, exchange kicks took place between the backs, Nicholls eventually kicking out in the same place. A free to Australia was taken by Spragg, who kicked to Thomp-son, who returned to Ward, the latter kicking out in the Englishmen's territory. In play again, the Australians worked it down the field, and Spragg made a fine dash through the ruck. A free to Australia was taken by Spragg right on the line between

half-way and the 25 flag. Spragg made a magnificent kick at goal, the ball striking the goal post, and bounding back into play. The Englishmen dashed away, but the ball was recalled for some unknown reason, and a scrum was formed. The Australians were now playing with renewed energy, and were exhorted by the spectators, who almost howl-ed themsolves hoarse in urging them to do their utmost. From a scrum near the Eng-lishmen's line the Australians were awarded another free kick, which was taken by Spragg, who made another fine kick at goal. Thompson saved. Adam-son kicked out, Ward returning to Gray, who kicked out at his own 25 flag. From the throw-in the English forwards rushed the play to half-way, when Currle secured, and made a good 'dash through the ruck. He passed to Evans, who failed to take, and Adamson dashing in kicked out in Aus-tralia's territory. From the throw-in Swannell kicked to M'Cowan, who made a bad mistake, running in front of his own goal. He was splendidly tackled by Adam-' son. M'Cowan then passed to Henry, who failed to take, and Nicholls dashing in picked up splendidly, and scored behind the posts. Adamson kicked a goal. Scores: England, 11; Australia, nil. The two touch line umpires, whose duty it is to watch the kick at goal, refused to allow the goal, but the referee overruled them. Currle kicked off, Thompson returning out at mldfleld. In play again, the visitors rushed it into the Australians' territory. Suddenly Evans was seen to break through, and as he beat the three-quarters line and approached the full-back the excitement was intense. Approaching the full-back, however, he slackened his pace, and looked for some one to pass to. He sent the ball towards Spragg, but it rolled out of bounds. It was no sooner in than Spragg, Evans, Currle, and Henry in quick succession made fine dashes for the line. The Britishers, however, defended magnificently, their tackling being very fine. Australia was un-able to break through. A free to Australia within easy goal-kicking distance was taken by Spragg, who failed. Nicholls saved. Adamson kicked off, Ward returning out at the 25 flag. Thrown in, the visitors, by a fine dribbling rush took it to half-way. M'Cowan at this stage came up to centre three-quarter, and put Ward full-back, and Henry on the right wing. M'Cowan, picking up in the ruck, dashed through, and sent a splendid pass to Spragg, who took it splendidly. The New South Wales, three-quarter made a splendid run through the ruck, dodging In grand style. Instead of going straight on, however, he turned in towards the goal, and was downed. Before falling, however, he passed along the ground to Curde, who pick-ed up well, and was only hauled down a few feet from the line. Excitement was now running very high, and the spectators cheered and cheered again. The Austral-ians made desperate efforts to score, but the Englishmen defended grand-ly. A pass from Currle to Evans was finely intercepted by Adamson, who dashed up the field for fifteen yards before his progress was stopped by Ward (Queens-land). From the scrum which followed the Australians returned to the attack. Evans, securing, wriggled his way through the ruck, but was well taken by Thomp-son. Then Spragg took a hand. He was seen to dash past the three-quarter line. Cries went up. " Spragg in." He "certainly looked like It, but again Thomp-son put in a good tackle. Encouraged by the cheers of the spectators, which were almost deafening, the Australians con- continued the attack, and kept the visitors constantly on the defensive. Scrum after scrum was formed close to the English- men's line, and although the Australians made desperate efforts to score they could not break through. Time was called shortly after with the play on the Englishmen's line. The game thus ended in a victory for the Englishmen by 11 points to nil. Mr. W. H. Beattie fulfilled the duties of referee. (Messrs. Francomb and Beard officiated as the line umpires. REMARKS. The game was a splendid exposition of Rugby, and at times some magnificent play was shown. The Englishmen clearly proved themselves the better team of the day. Their form was in marked contrast to that shown by them against Queensland, the tour North having wonderfully improved their com-bination. Their form, in fact, was the best yet shown by them since their arrival in Australia. The forwards seem to have considerably improved in pace, and their scrum work was really good. The backs also played grandly, some of their passing rushes being perfect. The visitors, with the exception of the last

quarter of an hour, had all the best of the game. The first half was entirely in their favour, and it was seldom the ball found its way into their territory. They kept the Australians almost constantly on the de-fensive during this spell. They also had considerably the better of the game during the greater portion of the second half, and added 8 more points to their score. To-wards the close of the game, however, the Australians made a splendid rally, which lasted fully a quarter of an hour. Evi-dently noticing the Englishmen slacking they made a determined effort to snatch the victory from the grasp of the Brit-ishers. They kept up a constant attack on the Englishman's line. So deter-mined was their play, and so near did they approach scoring, that the spectators were aroused to a tremendous pitch of excite-ment Each individual player was called upon by name to " get over," and as often as they were called to they responded. The Englishmen, however, proved very stubborn, and, playing with equal determination, repulsed attack after attack. When the whistle sound-ed time the general opinion was that it was a grand game. It was without a doubt, and it is doubtful if any one present begrudged the Englishmen their victory, for they richly deserved it. For Eng-land, Thompson at full-back proved very reliable. If a fault could be found with his play it was in waiting for the ball to bounce. He got his side into danger on several occasions through doing this. Other-wise he played a splendid game, his tack-ling and kicking being very fine. The whole of the three-quarters played soundly, but special mention should be made of Nicholls, who played the best game on the ground. He was equally good both in attack and de-fence, and always popped up at the right place at the right moment. Ever on the alert to take an advantage, he was the means of getting his side out of difficulties on several occasions. His line kicking was magnificent. Both the half-backs, Adam-son and Cookson, played fine games both in attack and defence. All the forwards work-ed well, Jarman, Stout, Ayre-Smith, and Gibson particularly putting in some fine work. For Australia, M'Cowan, at full-back, played his usual safe game, and was a host in himself. He also played with great dash for the short time he was playing centre three-quarter. The three-quarter line had very little to do, the wing men being almost entirely neg-lected. Although doing little in the attack, they put in some fine work on the defence. Evans, a five-eighth, made some fine dashes, but had a tendency to hang on to the ball too much. Ward, the other five-eighth, play-ed a fine game, and put in some solid work. He played with great judgment and dash. Currie, the scrum half, also played well. He seemed to lack his usual coolness, however, as he did not get the ball away from the scrum as well as he generally does. His kicking was very fine. Of the forwards, Carew, Marks, Ellis, Challinor, and Corfe were the pick. But all worked hard. They, however, did not pack in the scrum as well as was expected.