Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Monday 24 July 1899, page 6


INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

ENGLAND V- AUSTRALIA

THE SECOND TEST MATCH

VICTORY FOB THE ENGLISHMEN

SOME PASSING MOTES.

In the whole of Australia there is no athletic field so well designed by nature for spectacular purposes than the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. The hill slopes and cuttings form a modified style of amphi-theatre, and on Saturday at the football match, United Kingdom and Ireland v. Aus-tralia, it was

"Ringed round with a flame of fair faces." Though, of course, in such a carnival of peace it was not " splendid with swords." In our local ampitheatre the women, as in

old Rome, make up a good proportion of the thousands who gather to see a test of skill, strength, and speed, and though the gladiators who hunt the leather and each other do not look up when an adversary has fallen for the 6lgnal " thumbs down," their ears are often assailed by the cry of " Dump him !" which is a colloquialism more or less equivalent to the old death signal. In speaking of the many thou sands in all sorts of public and private

vehicles who thronged to the Exhibition Ground on Saturday, one may fairly ask why the local authorities insisted upon

putting rough, new metal on Gregory-terrace a day or two before the occasion of the test football match. Horses, drivers, and even the trams in their dumb jolting,

uttered protests, and anathemas were hurled at the city engineer and all his works. What a crush of vehicles there was on the narrow road, and how well Comptroller Tom O'Carroll managed things ! In the " scrum" to get in at the gates there was little " off-side" play, and Referee O'Car-

roll had no appeals, and cobwebs might have grown over his whistle. Before going into the ground a curious person estimated the crowd outside at somewhere about 3000 mostly boys , but that elevated open space on the Valley side of Bowen-terrace, and which has boen so offensively termed " the Scotch dress circle" had a packed mass of folk of all ages, and all types of vehicles, from the smart dog-cart to the ricketty wood-dray driven by an untidy girl, with a sharp little chap " off-sider" charging a penny for a seat for accommoda-tion on the hard boards or risky guard

irons.

Inside the ground the people made an interesting study. The sunshades of the women flashed scarlet or blue, toned here and there with more sombre shades, and the grandstand looked, for colour, like a giant bed of hyacinths in the first bloom of an English spring. Bandmaster Larson was there with a detachment of the Head-quarters Band, and gave the massed thou-sands some channing music, though he might have arranged a fresh programme for the occasion. However sweet "La Mascotte" and "Dorothy" may be, it would be well for the band to let folk know that Its repertory is not confined to those delight-ful operas. Governor Lamington and a big party from Government House arrived early, and had the benefit of seats outside the line where they could fully enjoy the sensation of sun in their eyes for the whole afternoon. Generally speaking, the Rugby Union had excellent arrangements for the convenience of the spectators, with the ex-ception of the scoring board, which was poked away in an inconvenient place, and it required field glasses to see the scores from the opposite side of the ground.

When the teams came out to play there was very little enthusiasm. The usual " barrakers" felt sore about Skipper Mulineux's Rockhampton remarks, and re-frained from the usual warm cheering which greets strangers on a Queensland football field. But there was not much time to think about that sort of thing, for Referee Beattie soon had the teams in hand and ready for the kick-off. The visitors were tho heavier team, that was very evident, though their bar-striped jerseys made their bulk appear greater. The Australians were a solid lot, muscular, and in excellent trim. It must have been very apparent even to the most dull-witted of " has-beens" that the Australians played throughout with but poor combination ; their forwards were out-classed, and some of their backs played wltn the idea that they had the whole respon-sibility of tho game on their shoul-ders, and bumped along wildly and hope-lessly, while their comrades waited in vain for the pass which did not come. M''Cowan, the usually cool and reliable back of the home team, seemed to suffer from this dis-tressing delusion, and a bigger mistake than he made in the second half in running across in front of his goal and holding on until tackled was probably never seen in firstclass football. The game was rough from the outset, and those who read their Gordon must have felt the full force of the saying,

" The fooliball meadow is rife with spills." (At times the visitors did some excellent passing ; the home team did the same, perhaps, on three occasions ; but bearing in mind the lesson taught when Queensland handsomely whipped thom, the visitors made most of the play with their forwards. The presence of the Ambulance detachment on the ground must have been very encouraging to the players. On some steeplechase courses there is a stretcher party at every jump. The ideas which arise on notlng the provision for first aid In case of a smash are not pleasant. Yet the Ambulance man -especially those who carry mysteriouslooking flasks - are not unwelcome on afootball football field.

One point in connection with Saturday's match was the warm applause whicn greeted any exceptionally brilliant play on the part of the visitors. There was little ot the boisterous enthusiasm which marks successful play on the part of the home

team, for there was not much occasion for it, and the average "barraoker" was as silent as the proverbial tomb. Occa-

slonally an Australian would get the ball and make a dash, and there would be a deafening roar, but the Englishmen, like the soldiers of the Prophet, seemed ta spring from the ground, and there would be a sullen choke of disappointment as the hopes ot scoring were dashed away. The first half of the game ended with anxiety, but still hope in the hearts of the great bulk of the spectators ; the second half as the time ticked away was watched in all the pain or despair. After the "Englishmen had scored

the goal which brought the numbers on the board - England, 11 ; Australia, 0 ; one might have mistaken the average youth as a chief mourner at his nation's funeral. Without doubt the visitors were the better team oa Saturday ; but what of that ? It simply makes honours easy. In the test matches there is a win each, and the same in the

matches against colonies. Australia may win the rubber. Why should she not ?

Of tho numbers who watched Saturday's great match there were visitors from places a good many hundreds of miles from Bris-bane. Rockhampton, Gladstone, Longreach, and Charleville sent contingents, and packed tralnloads came from places where Mr. Commissioner Gray had laid specials on. The ordinary passenger train from Too-

woomba had to be run in two divisions, making thirteen carriages in all ; the special, of seven carriages learving Warwick at 6 a.m. was packed, and the special from Mary-borough and Gympie brought in a heavy load also. The ordinary Gympie and Ips-wich trains were crowded. The fares were : From Warwick or Maryborough, 7s. 6d.; from Toowoomba or Gympie, 5s. These

were return rates, but no doubt they paid the department very well.

THE PLAY. 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 tho 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 concourso, including ithe 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. Timms,

H. G. Gray.

C. Adamson. Cookson.

Judkins. Gibson.

Ayre-Smith. B. I. Swannell. Evers.

M. Stout. T. M'Gown. J. W. Jarman.

O

W. H. Tanner. 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.

QUEENSLAND.

Punctually to time the Australian team, attired in tho maroon jerseys- Queensland's colours -bearing a handsome badge, emble-matical of the Australian coat of arms, took the field, and assembled in front ot the grandstand. The Englishmen followed closoly in their wake, and as they emerged on to the field the Australian team gave them three hearty cheers. Both teams were enthusiastically received hy 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 Currie, who mulled badly. The visitors wore 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. Currie eventually secured from the ruck, and relieved by a splen-did kick up the field. Thompson returned out at half. Thrown-In, the ball was worked across the field, and Nicholls, picking up, essayed a run, but was quickly smothered. Hís pass was nicely inter-cepted by Marks, who punted out at half-way. Thrown-in, exchange kicks between Currie 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 Ourrie's legs, and as it bounded over the line Spragg saved. A clever piece of play. P. Ward kicked out, and Adam-son falling to mark, Tanner and Carew worked the ball out at half-way. A scrum resulted from the throw-in. Currie 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 mado 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 half-way. 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 Timms, who was downed. From the ruck Street and Marks broke away, and dribbled to the visitors' 25, where they were well stopped by Doran. A grand passing

rush between Currie, P. Ward, and Evans

resulted in tho latter getting over the line, but the ball was recalled. The excitement

waa 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 Timms, and thon 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 Currie, 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. Tho ball was no sooner in than the Englishmen with it at their toes, Jarman, Gibson, and Stout showing out weil, dashed down the field into the Australians' 25. The local men worked it back gradually to midileld by scrum play, but Nicholls 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 little Was gained. From a scrum Adamson secured, and passed to Cookson, to Nicholls, to Timms, and them to Gray, the latter being splendidly taken by Henry. The ball rolled out. Thrown in, a scrum was formed, and Adamson securing made a splendïd 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-Smith, who crossed the line amidst prolonged cheers. Adamson mado a fine but unsuccessful kick at goal. Scores : England, 3 ; Australia, nil. Half-time was then called.

The Englistamem so far had all the best of the game. There 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-tralians' 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 klckout at the 25 flag. Thrown in, the visitors, who were constantly on the aggres&ive, 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. Nicholls 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 kilckod out. the ball bouncing out at half-way. In play again, the Eng-lish forwards, with Stout, Ayie-Smith, and Jarman in tha van. dashed up tho field with the toll at their toes, but they were stopped by M'Cowan. A series of scrums took place close to tho Australians' line. The ball was eventually kicked to Gray, who dropped at goal. M'Cowan refused to save, and kioked to Timms, who returned to Henry, the latter making a splendid re-turn, kicking out at midneld. From the throw-In the Australian forwards, rallying, dashed down the field, and for the first time during the second half had tho visitors defending. A long kick toy Currie to Thompson was mulled, and (before the Eng-lish iull-back could recover himself he was

splendidly tackled by Ellis. Still on the aggressive, the Australians made several fine dashes, P. Ward, Evans, and Stout showing out prominency. The visitors rally-ing, however, soon took the ball back to mldfield, 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 tho 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 kick-ing 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 serum was formed. Tho Australians were now playing with renewed energy, and were exhorted by the spectators, who almost howl-ed themselves hoarse in urging them to do their utmost. From a scrum near the Eng-lishmen's line the Australians were award-ed 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 Currie 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°Oowan then passed to Henry, who failed lo 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.

Currie kicked off, Thompson returning out at rnidfield. 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 Spracg, Evans, Currie, 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 Currie, who pick-ed up well, and was only hauled down a few feet from the line. Excitement waa 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 Currie to Evans was finely intercepted by Adamson, who dashed up tho field for fifteen yards before his progress was stopped by Ward (Queens-land). From the scrum which followed tho Australians returned to the attack. Evans, securing, wriggled his way through tho ruck, but was well taken by Thomp-son. Then Spragg took a hand. He was seen to dash past tihe 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 vislitors 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 English-men'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. Branscombe and Beard offiated as the 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 excepción 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 thoy 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 thoy 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 walting 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 bo made of Nicholls, who played the best gormo 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 sido out of difficultlea 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 timo 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, Challlnor, and Corfe were the pick. But all worked hard. They, however, did not pack la the scrum as well as was expected.

The minors in the Bundamba centre are moving in the matter of obtaining a readingroom for that place. Some £8 or £10 to-wards the object in view has been collected, and a systematic canvass is now being made. Such a room would be a great boon to the miners, as they could make use of it In their leisure hours.

Keep your feet dry. An eminent throat specialist says that " the best chest pro-tector is worn on the sole of the toot."