Evening Express

Wales' New Forward. REES THOMAS, the Welsh forward who wasl' capped ag-ainst France, has been playing for Pon typool for about six seasons. He is a sound scrimmag?er and a brUliant player in the !oo"e. Ho first came into prominence whilst playing for Pontymoile United, a smart junior team, which has produced many Poutypool players. Thomas has played in almost every county match, REES THOMAS. and also played for the Monmouthshire Leag-ue when Pontypool were in the coon- petition. III 1904 he was selected as reserve for Wales, but he failed to get into the tea.m. Rees stands 5ft. Mill., weighs 12st. 101b., and is only 24 years of age.

PHYSIQUE OF THE WELSH TEM Height. Weight. Age. ft. in. t. lb. J. Baiieroft 29 5 8 11 3 J. L. WvlliamH (Cardiff) 25 5 gi 11 0 W. Trew (Swan-sea) 27 5 8 10 10 J. P. Jones (Newport) 23 6 0 12 10 Phil Hopkins (Swansea) 27 5 6 12 0 R-. M. Owen (Swansea). 27 5 3 9 J Dick Jones (Swansea) 33 5 9 11 5 Geo. Travers (Pill H.). 29 6 0 12 10 Tom Evans (Llanelly). 23 5 11 14 0 J. Webb (Abertillery). 23 5 11 13 8 P. Waller (Newport) 20 5 10 12 10 Ivor Morgan (Swansea) 24 5 10 14 0 J. Watts (LlaineIly) 32 5 8. 12 4 K. Thomas ("Newport) 30 5 10 13 0 II- Thomas (Pontypool). 24 5 11?. 13 0

I WELSH HONOURS UP TO DATE, I Tl. Jae? Bancroft: E, S, F. and I 1%9 4 W. J. Trew: E, S, and I 19M, E and S 1901. Tl., W. S 1903, 1S05, and 1906, E and S 1907. E, R, I, F, and A 1908, and E, 8. F, and I I 1909 19 J. L. Williams: S.A. 1906, E. S, and I 1907 and 1908, A 1908, E, S. F, and' I 19(19 13 Phil Hopkins: A 1938. E and I 1909 3 J. P. Jones: A 1908. E. iS, F, and I 1909 5 R. M. Owen: I 1901, E, S, and I 1902, 1903. 1904, and 1905, N:Z. 1905, E, S, 1. and is.A: 19C6, E and S 1907, I, F. and A 1908, E, S, F, and I 1909 27 Dick Jones: I 1901. E 1902, E, S, and I 1904. E 1905, I, F, and A 1908, E, S, F, and I 1909 13 George Travers: E, S, and I 1903 and 1905, N.Z. 1905, E. S. I, and S.A. 1906, E, a. .and I 1907. E, S. 1. F, and A 1908, E. S, and I 1909 22 P. D. Waller: A 1908. E, S, F, and I 1909 5 Ivor Morgan: A 1908, E, S, F, and I 1909. 5 Tom Evans: I 19(1), E, S, and I 1907, A 1908. 5 E. S. F, and I 1909 9 J. Webb: S 1907, E, is, I. F, and A 1908. E. S, F, and I 1909 10 J. Watts: E, 8. and I 1907, E, 8, I, F, and A 1908, S, F, and I 1909 11 E. Thomas: S and I 1904. S, F, and I 1909. 5 R. Thomas: F and I 1909 2

IRISHMEN'S RECORDS AGAINST WALES I I. The folwwing members of the Irish team I have played against* Wales:— Tl. Henesbery, 19<16 1 Thrift, 1906, 1907. and 1908 3 Parke. 1906, 1907, and 1908 3 G. Wilson, 1906, 1907. and 1908 3 Hamlet, 1907 and 1908 2 TbompsoD. 1908 1 Bmythe, l9M 1 i: t

I RECORD OF MATCHES, PLAYED. I I Wales won 13, Ireland 8; drawn 1. t Wales. Ireland. I Where played. G. T. Pts. G. T. Pts. 1882-Du,13]jii 2 2 16 0 0 0 1884-Caxdiff 1 2 11 0 0 0 1887-Liver.pool 1 1 a 0 3 9 1838—Dublin 0 0 0 2 1 13 1889-<S.wausea 0 0 0 0 2 6 18S(}-Dublin 1 0 5 1 0 5 1891—Llanelly 2 0 9 1 1 7 1892-Du:blin 0 0 0 1 2 11 -T,Iia,uelly 0 1 3 0 0 0 1894-Pelfa.it 0 0 0 1 0 5 1895-Cardiff 1 0 5 0 1 3 1895—Dublin 1 0 5 1 1 8 1897— No match owing to dispute. 189S-Limerick 2 1 11 1 0 3 189'9-(:al'difi' 0 0 0 0 1 3 1900-Belfa,t 0 1 3 0 0 0 1901-Swansea 2 0 10 0 3 9 1902—Dublin 2 2 15 0 0 0 19()3-0ardiff 0 6 18 0 0 0 1904-Belltiast 0 4 12 1 3 14 19C5—-Swansea 2 0 10 0 1 3 1906—Belfast 0 2 6 1 2 11 1907—Cardiff 4 4 32 0 0 0 19C8—Dublin. 1 2 11 1 0 5 To-ta?l Z-Z2 8 198 11 21 115 The method of scoring was altered in 1894.

ABERAVON. The match between A'btravon and Ma?te? j Jaet Saturday, which was the fourth cante?sti of the season, ended in a. subgtantial win for I the 'Afonttes. The actual score was 8 .points to nil, but the superiority of the 'Afonitee was far more than this. Unfortunately, the giame was contested on a quagmire, which prevented any scientific play. Notwithstanding this, however, several very credita-b-le rounds of passing took place j on the Aberavon side.

SAM. WEEKS. SAM. WEEKS, of the Deri Juniors, who is I only twenty years of age, and turns the scale at list, llb., is one of the tnoat .r?!ia.M? membere of the bwm, and hi- I gen?ra?l&hip has led them to vi(?ti?, sev?n?J o'ectMKmB. 8am. as he is })Opu:Ïa,rlY I known, is of a quiet and uca?sumMg di$P j position, and is very popular with both players and sup-porters of the team. He has a sound knowledge of the game, and it is a treat to see the method he has of setting the back division in motion. His brilliant bursts from ten yards out is the chief feature of his play, which often cul- minates in a score, and nedtlher a Bancroft nor a. lyin-field would atop him from scoring from that distance. I One of these, between Tom Thomas, the I inside half, who exercised the dummy very neatly, and Jago Jonas, led to a remarkably pretty try by the latter. The game generally was eonfinoo to lick-inc and forward rushes, and in the former capacity young Dick Hughes, the '-kfbn cus- todian, did grand work. His fielding- was truly remarkable, and on two occasiona. when he was called upon as a last resource, he upset his opponent in clean, and un- mistakable style. The Aberavon forwards also did remark- ably well, and. put u.p an overpowering struggle against the. etal warts of the Llwynft Valley. In scrimmaging and heeling the AfQon eight, had decidedly the best of matters, but in open rushes honours were about easy. At half Tom Thomas and Jestyn Thomae did well, but in Bayliss they had opposed to them a very tricky exponent. On two occa- sions Baylies broke clean away, and had he been heHer supported scores would have been certain. AU the three-quarters were uncertain, but intermixed there was some very pretty play on the part of W. J. Rees and Maurice Walsh. In the forwards Will James, Vickrey, and J)awso were the most prominent, but splendid work was also performed by Will Gregory and W. J. Davies, the former eco-r-ing a smart try. JVIaesteg were fairly and squarely beaten, but it was no fault of t,be forward, Bayiliss, or Evan John. the full-back.

BLAINA. I Blaina beve played 17 games, won 6, drawn I 4. and lost 7. Throughout the season only 54 points have been scored by them, 23 of I these being put. up against Poctnewydd, whilst 42 points have been registered against I them.

CARDIFF. I Dr. Buist is working with enthusiasm to I make a huge success of the Easter Wednes- day charity match between Cardiff and the Rest of Wales. There is every prospect of the game reaching the high standard of ex- i cellence which made the East v. West matches memorable. Mr. J. S. Taylor, who was one of the joint hon. secretaries of those matches, is acting as assistant to Dr. Buist in conjunction with Mr. D .A. Williams, who is an old flandoverian and a brother of Dr. W. G. Williams, the popular medico, of the Cardiff Club. Mr. Tom Williams' host of friends will be glad to know that he is gradually recover in from his long and severe illness, and that h, was hopeful of seeing to-day's match at Swansea.

PONTLOTTYN. f PoDtlottyn arc now in full swing in pre- j paration for the inter-league itittteli to take place on Monday. It is to be hoped that tjie, supporters will rally round them and thus prove that the venture of bringing a match of this cjass to the town has not been mis- placed.

[ THE POINTS OF THE GAME. I I PAT AND iSHOiNI EXCITED. I

PQNTARDAWE. I Gorseinon visited Pont-ard-awe last Satur- day, and were defeated by the huge score of 54 points to nil. Had Pontardawe taken matters more seriously the soore would have been more. The half-backs, Ra-psey and Lewis, were the best of the Pontiaictawe side, and were doing just what they liked. The postponed Pon- tarda,we and Swansea match will be played on Thursday, Maxell 25. The funds of the Pontardawe Seconds are very low at present, and the committee are organising a social and dance to be held on March 27 in aid Of the finances.

0. MORGAN, Hopkinatown. I D. MORGAN, of Hopkinstown, who figures at outside half, is a young man, who plays a really good game, with Jack Williams as I partner. Morgan secured two splendid W. G. MORGAN I (Hopkinstown RugW Football Club). tries, practically on his own initiative, in the match with Cilfynydd, and the com- mittee eould do worse than give him every encouragement.

RHYDYFBUN. I R-hydyfelm am juStly jpppuid of their I achievement in defeating Treforest Bo?er? by 8 points to 5. The Rovers had not been defeated this season, and .they were confident of goll* tbrougb. But it was con- fidently felt at Rhydyfelin that the Rovers would meet. their Waterloo. The game wa.s fought at a great pace, but Rhydyfelin beat them fore and aft. A brill ianit bout of p&'i&ng by th? Rhydyfalm backs completely rjon?lm<?d the Rovers, aDA W. J. Jooe3 fcw-ored a fime try, wbich he converted from th<? tcncb-lme. lA?w R.ees was qtiHR c?t?tay?d by W. Re?. the M!ydyMin o?utre. The victory Rees, had4ed with delight by the Rhydyf?iin supporters. The j efereein g of Mr. D. WUMn? W'W all that could be desired. He is to be oomgraitittltated en keeping such a keen game under perfect control.

TRIPLE CROWN WON SECOND TIME IN SUCCESSION Quintuple Record This Season. 9th CONSECUTIVE INTERNATIONAL VICTORY. AMAZING FEAT OF WELSH TEAM IRELAND OVERWHELMED BY 18 POINTS TO 5. ] Terrific Forward Work I THE FIRST HALF BARRENI I ) I ThenWelshmenWake Up SCORE LIKE SHELLING PEAS I Final score: G. T. P'ts. WALES 3 1 18 IRELAND 1 0 5 [By" FORWARD.") I It would require a long stretch of one's memory to recall another occasion in the history of Welsh international football when a match with Ireland aroused so little inte- rest in the Principality, and one would cer- tainly have to go back to the very early days of Rugby to find a paralleled experience of lo-day. All the indications ot a large crowd assembled at St. Helen's were wanting-, the main thoroughfares of the town presenting nothing ntora than a normal aspect as late in the day as noon. It has been the rule for many years past to find the venue of the international invaded by tens of thousands an hour before the time fixed for kicking-off. To-day not more than a couple of thousand gathered around the enclosure at St. Helen's. Few Excursionists. I Excursions were run from all parts of South Wales and from some English towns as well, but most of them were meagrely patronised. and it was surprising the small number of people who made the journey from town. Not more than fifty people travelled down from the Welsh Metropolis by the first of the day's excursions, and it is safe to say that not more than a thousand came down from the western town all told It is difficult to explain this extraordinary public apathy except on the ground, so far as Cardiff is concerned, that J. li. Williams was the only representative of the premier Welsh club in the national side. There was also a feeling abroad that the result was more or less a foregone conclu- sion, and that the Welshmen would win as they pleased. There was reaJly no substan- tial justification for so much optimism, and there were were not a few people who re- garded the excessive confidence with a feeling of apprehension lest it should ulti- mately be the undoing of Wales. There was some reassurance in the mes- sage addressed to the Welsh players by their captain, Willio Trew, who evidently realised the match wa.s far from being a gift to Wales. There was no shadow of an excuse for the smallness of the attendance on the score of the conditions of the weather being unfavourable, for there never was a game played under more favourable conditions. The weather was bright and fine, without being cold, and the ground was in its very best order, which is saying a great deal when speaking of the splendid turf of St. Helens. The Irish Team. I All the Irish players had arrived in Swan- sea overnight, and by this morning had shaken off the ill-effects of their rough pas- sage acroes the Irish Sea. There was some doubt up to the last moment as to whether J. C. Parke, the most brilliant of the Irish three quarters, would report himself fit enough to play, but all anxiety on that point was dispelled by the announcement that he wobld turn out in his accustomed place at right centre. There was no further change in the Irish team than those already announced. Fortunately for Wales, there was not a single defection, and the team, was iden- tical, with one exception, with that which won such a hollow victory over France. That one exception wae the veteran George Travers, who took his old place in the Welsh pack instead of T. C. Lloyd, who came into tho team as a reserve against the French- s men. Among the devotees of the game there was only one topio discussed during the morning, that being the glorious opportunity of Wales creating a record, which may justifiably be the "pride of Gwalia" and the envy of sister nations, by winning five international games in one season, to say nothing of annexing the Triple Crown two seasons in succession and of winning the ninth consecutive inter- national match. This would be an achieve- ment without pareUel in football history, and one which would in itself be sufficient to set a seal upon the abiding fame of Wales as the world's leading exponents of Rugby tactics. One feature of the preliminary proceed- ings—which was sadly lacking, by the way, in interesting incidents—was the parading of the ground by a number of sandwich iden carrying placards advertising the ujtiona pageant of Wales at Cardiff at the end of I July and the beginning of August. Whether Swansea people relished this bit of enterprise on the part of their eastern rivals is quite another matter, but the sandwich men. any- how, oould not escape the notace of any visitors in the field. Past Matches Reviewed. I It may lie ati well to put on record here that, to-day d was the twenty-fourth meeting between the two countries, and the fourth time for Ireland and Walcg to meet at Swansea. In the first match played on the ground in lmaJOtly twenty years ago-Ireland WOO by two tries to oil; and in surveying th* scene one could not help wondering bogr many of those present to-day witnessed the defeat of Wales on that occasion. The second enoonnter at Swansea took place eight years ago, the Welshmen win- ning undeservedly by two goals and three tries, and it is a fact that will never be for- gotten that one of the two tries Bancroft converted from Alexander was so glaringly the result of oR-side play that the crowd did not raise a cheer, and the sympathy of all went out to the unfortunate sons of Erin on that day. The third match was that in which the famous Basil M'Lear made his first appeal" anoe against Wales, and that in the centra against Gwyn Nicholls in a match in which the prince of three-quarters was only called upon to play at the last minute as a reserve to Dan Rees. The soreness created by Nicholls' selection on that occasion in pre- ference to Gordon has not yet completely died away among the supporters of the Swansea Club. The result of that hard game was a win for Wales by two goals to a try after the Welshmen had drawn first blood through a characteristic forward rush Since then Ireland has won one out of the three natches playea, beating Wales at BeR fast in 1906 by the narrow margin of a goat and two tries to two tries. Then came thfl historio debacle at Oara-iff two years ago, ",hen Wales, under the captaincy of Rhys Gabe, put up the record soore of 4 go&ls; 4 tri, to,nil, and when Percy Bush made a. lasting reputation by playing the most bril- liant game of his career. To come to tha last match of all a.t Belfast, a yeaa- ago, it is within the recollection of everybody that Wales won a great game by a goal and two tries to a goal. Appropriate selections of music were played in good ,style by the Swansea Temperance- Band. Dotted here and there among the spec- tators were patriotic Hibernians, who sported green ribbo-ns, but, there was comparatively little evidence of tihe leek. It is strange, but true, that more was seen of the W-elsli national emblem when Wales played in Scotland OlD the occasion of the home matches. Ten minutes from the opening of hostilities the Irishmen, in their bright green jersey? and white nicks, oaine out of the pavilion to be photographed, and were enthusiasti- citlly received. Soon atfteirwardis AVillie Trew brought out his men to undergo the same ordeal, a, Jond shout going up at the first sight of the scarlet jerseys. It was estimated that there were 25,'TOO people on the gronnd at ten minutes after three o'clock, the kick-off being timed for five minutes latter. A notable omission from the usual preliminary international pro* gramme was the complete absentee of fringing. Not a single note broke upon the afternoon air, and not eveu SOB pan fach" was heaird, although a large contingent of Llanellyites was included in the crowd. Punctually to time the players entered the arena, the Irish mem being led by Hamlet. Plan of the Field. IRELAND. WALES. x Referee, Mr. F. Potter-Irwin (London). The faame W&an. Vf kick-off from the town end, tlieio was a complete absence of wi-nd, and the conditions were altogether admirable. J. 0. Parke returned into th- hands of Bancroft, who found touch with a beauty on the Irish 25 line. Tom EvaJ1$ secured in the line-out, and, forcing his way through the Irish forwards, kicked down to the Irish line, where Owen picked up in a. loose rush and was forced into touch tea yards from the line. For an infringement in the serum the Welshmen were penalised, and Parke, wit& a lovely kick, found touch dead on the centre line. Waller secured on the line-out, but lost possession, and Dick Jones picked up and passed to J. P. Jones, who was tackled the moment he received the ball. which was kicked up to Phil Hopkins, who made his mark oleverly inside his own 25. Jack Bancroft took "the kick, and punted to Henebery, who found touch nar the centre with a well-judged kick. Frbm the scrum which followed the line- out Dick Jones secured, and, breaking away on the blind side, passed to Phil Hopkins, who Tan dead up to Heneberry, who cross- kicked, but Greeves was in a position to field saTely, and made his mark. The kick-out. which followed sent the hall into touch on the Welsh side of the centre line, but the Welsh forwards, beating the Irishmen in tbø loose and helped by their captain, dribbled down the ground, but Greeves again saved the situation by making hie mark. Phil Hopkins Nearly Over Another pretty movement was brought about by Owen and Jones, the latter passiO^ to Phii Hopkins, who sprinted across tbe field at top speed along the right touch-line and looked like getting over until he was brought down by Henebery ten yardo from the line. Jack Bancroft was next called upon tO save, and this he did ia brilliant style by, taking the ball on the full run at the feet of the Iriah forwards, and running to the centre, where he was brought down by bunch of Irishmen. Loose kicking by Irish backs ga,ined them a lot of ground, a-od play was taken to within ten yards k4 Welsh line, where Bancroft, Belding the ba?' from a high kick, wrolied into touch bY the burly Irish forwards. The Hiberndatl3 were playing up in surprisingly good stYle, and were now having the better of the arl'\1'" anient, their forwards controlling the ecrum better than the Welshmen. The ball was heated out to Pinion, WW passed out to Parke, but Trow, anticipating the movement, intercepted the pass, and r»n clea.r of the oclitre, but, when faoed by Herteberry, his pass to Hopkins, when that player had a dpar field, went wrong, and A glorious chance wad lost. Irishmen Attack The Irishmen returned to the attack, and ,were as busy as bees inside the Welsh 'when Dick Jones passed out to Jack Jonec. he kicking into touch on the centre line. Prom the succeeding scrum the ball wäS heeled out to Pinion, but Owen kicked it out. of his hands, and found touch near we Irish 25 line. When Owen next received :J,t. the hands of his forwards he ran straight inito the hiamds of M'Comac, who planted him deep. A minute later Diok Jones wOO again at fault in failing to ta.ke a pass froto Owen. Fine kicking by Heneberry in reply to a high punt by Bancroft found toud1 near the Welsh 25 line, and the Irishme11 were once again aggressive. I Another dangerous movement by the Irish forwards was checked by Bancroft, who fielded the ball in great style, and put ill a screw kick to touch with ihis left fcat. A grand itish by the Welsh, forwards tool* play back over to the centre line, but Tbfrif1 was fortunate in, getting into VOSIUojt tP put a flying kicl: into touch. Beadoe 1 homas Injured r ram the iinoout Jaimet4 Watte broke 0;.111 in brilliant style. backed up by his dub- t mate, Tom Evans, and ..oth reached the tine with the ball at their toes, when Beddoe Thomas, who was in clooo attandamoe, WAit knocked out. and had to leave the field. It was a greait effort, and only jaat m (being successful. From the ensuing 60rolo in front of the Irish posts the ball wss heeled out to Owen, who papsed to Di"* Jones, but again the Swansea outside half was seriously at fault in throwing a wide pasg over the head of Johnny Wilitams 011 the left wing. Agrait, securing the ball favl" the next scrum, Owei threw a clever revew pass to J. p. Jones, who passed to The Welsh captain, running splendidlX' reached the Irish goal-Hijte, where he woe held up and prevented from grounding the baU- Beddoe Thomas now returned, and whetf Wales were pressing bard a free was give" against them, and touch was iound out 0 danger. The Welsh forwards now began to show better form and greater skill in heel- ing, but the passiosr movements went wronf, and jfradnally ti1 p worked their

IRISH MATCHES WITH WALES. j I How Thfy^—end Others! —Have Been Won. i i AN^ TrlE VALUE OF GOAL-KICKING I THEREIN. By PERCY F. BUSH. In writing ritis article I am hoping that the big match thi? afternoon was won by euperMr go<tj-kick?g, ior this is a braneh of the game which is, unfortunately, much neglected nowadays. I say J am hoping" because I am afraid of pro- i pheeyiiig like I did in last Saturday's •Pt'icle. You see. parient public. these Tapourings of mine have to be in, type quite early in each week, so in dealing ■with Louis Dyke la-si week I had to imagine him facing Jack Jooes at New- port. and, of course, tloing doughty deeds, .s usuaJ, But who woulii 'have imagined that Dame iShtih wvuid have put her foot iown heavily as to stop the game being flayed, and thus make me feel, ou read-j .ng about how Louis had done the trick j3 a game which was not played, about as happy as a cockle when he (or she) begins to feel the water bubbling in the boiling pot. At such times the brow of the cockle is apt to become furrowed. My brow was tit to sow potatoes in when I read my article last ,Sarurday night, and tound out what a rot leD prophet I was. Hence I shall not prophesy, but just hope. And all this leads up to what I wish to say about goal-kicking, and. to oegiji with matches between Ireland and Waleti, I would go back 22 years, which nakes this quite an ancient article. Ancient History lp 1887, then. Wales played Ireland at Liverpool, and at this time, a,* everybody knows, a goal would beat a gocdtv crop of tries. Ireland scored three tries in this particular macch. bin narv a one was converted. Then Uttle Wnk's got a soli- tary aecxTf. and. the hall heing placed over the bar from the k'ck IH goal. Wals had won by one goal to three tries. •• Dis- tressful for OireJaj'.c!. of course, but. seeing that the object of the game is to kick the ball over the cross-bar." quit." an equitable result. This game always reminds me of one in ,b,ich my dad played in these days of the divine right of goals. The match wa* between the Llan- ,daffs (or Elys, or Tenths, or Volunteers, uncher all oi wltich names tbev played in different seasons. my dad being skipper of the Elvs) and, the Blaeuau Ironsides on the Sophia Gardens in a gale of wind. The Ironsidt-s scored a try about every other iiiinute of the game, but couldn't kick agpal. Towards th e end of t he. game one ot the Llandaffs saw the ball bobbing about harmlessly without much aim in life, so he thought he might just as well .give it a help on its weary way. Accord- ingly. he rushed at ir antT introduced his bootmaker. • The spheroid rose indig- nantly. and the gale did the rest, for it \the spheroid) sailed and floated straight over the bar. and won the game for the Llandaffs, of whom good old Frank Hybart. »of chess fame, was captain. lEdnmnds was the name of the kicker. .n'<l to this day he well remembers that game. But to come baek to Wales and Ireland. 'In 1895 these 1-11d0- met at Cardiff, and scored a try each. Wales's was converted. Ireland's was a notter, and so the scar- lets won. lu If)Ol t)iav played again at !S.aøøelt. and tber sons of Erin notched three toretv tries, hiifc rrat st single goal acctUjgd, for tlaert) *eevied but a crude J.. x f idea of goai-kiek-ing, There }rs a little man named Bancroft on the Wplsh side. luckily for Wales, bardic title 'Banky. Wafets.got a try. and óóBanky" put.it over, But Ireland was still top dog.. and looked bound to win. When all seemed lost little Bobby Brice not the ball tar out. (took a 99 years' lease on it. and gently &Ila persuasively trotted ()nr. leaving a wake (or* very nearly a. wake) of very "wake". Oirishmen behind him—viz.. those who had attempted tp stop him. "Banky" took the shot for fl)e while the people held their breath presumably for teat- of blowing the bail wide. The angle was not an easy one. but. as usual. the Immortal One made no bones a bout it. and. like his little brother Jack at lnverleith a little while back, he made it look as easy as shelling peas. Wales hi-eathed iincl ten points to nine was the verdict at the end, or 2 goals to 3 tries. Modern Times. Coming to more modern times still, at Belfaóot, it. l!iUL a iurious oatcle was .aged. The two teams heot on scoring tries a.b though they couldn't help it. Wales got four, and so did Ireland. and when the last kick was taken you could have heard a factory stack fall; so great yças the tension. The result of that kick I j H"c int everything to the game, and the I grens were triumphant by 1 goal, 3 j tries, to 4 tries. (Sorry I can't make that exciting, but it rather spoils it because I can't for the life of me remem- her whether Ireland or Wales scored the last try.) Two other matches must be touched on. and both of -these at Cardiff. In the mud and luiii of the park in 1903. the day when Rhys Gabe and Edward Mor- j gan played so grandly. Wales got six tries, and certainly didn't deserve to be beaten. But no goals were kicked, and Wales were 18 points ahead. It. is not often that ;) team, six tries behind, catches up. but just fancy Ireland scor- ink four times on this occasion, and con- verting them all, winning by 20 points to 18! Perhaps you don't remember this fact. eh? and. luckily, it was "just [fancy!" ,-piu Wales was a winner by her six unfled tries. (But that rather ) "coDped" you, didn't it. all the sameF) The other 1112TCII to be palmed off on j you. forbearing public, is the one tt Cardiif in, 1907. This was the match I most enjoyed, personally, of my few international games. Dicky David enjoyed it, too. and often speaks of it now as "his game." which. no doubt, it was. I often wonder what woulcT have happened if the Irish halves had hit ma into a cocked hat when Dicky gave me my first pass, instead of leaving me stand- ing bewildered, while they ran down to talk to "Winky," who was standing on ) the half-way line enjoying himself doing nothing. I mention this match because Wales put up her record score (29 points) that day. Speaking before the event, however. I call not help thinking that if all the selected men have turned out this after- noon that record will have gone by the board by the time these lines are read, if anyone, besides myself, reads tjieui. lore especially as the Irish selectors have done Wales the kindness to drop Dick Magrath. who is a better spoiler of 1 Welsh methods than any three-quarter I have yet met, besides being a strong and j hearty attacker. Luck in Kicking. I Now. to dwell for a few pages on some I of the "other matches" and their goals. Just to show that Wales has not always had the luck in kicking. She lost to the North of England in 1882 by a try to a goal, but no real England-Wales match was actually settled by goal-kicking until that memorable match at Cardiff in 1893. xa-hicli it was possible to play on a ground which had been frost-bound on the Fri- day, by dint of thawing it with poor old "Bill" Shepherd's famous "devils," England had a grand side out, and scored four times during the game. One was converted, so England had eleven points to her credit (a try at this time counting two points.) Meanwhile, the Principality had not been idle. crossing the line thrice, and "Banky" augmented one try. leaving his side only two points in arrears. This was the state of the game up to nearly the final whistle, and Wales never looked like scoring. But sud- denly a penalty was given to Wales. It was well out of apparent reach of the goal, which WM probably the reason it was I "iven but once more "Banky" was at home. He begged Arthur Gould to let him try a drop-kick, and the captain reluctantly allowed him to. "Banky" calmly took the "pill," and. without seeming to take much notice of the posts, gently hoofed the ball as though it were fluite an everyday occurreuce to I kiek goals from the touch-line at nearly half-way. The crowd watched the ball in its flight without a sound, but when it ?Il""l seen that the bar had been crossed such a scene of enthusiasm was seen as was not approached until Wales gave New Zealand her quietus on the same ground in 1905. Of course, the great. ?lit'le "Banky" was carried off, and afterwards Banky-watted ad nauseam. (Your indulgence is craved). "Winky" in History. I Xgain, at Blackheath, that famous fighting ground, the Leek, quarrelled with the Lion by a penalty goal and two tries to a legitimate goal and one try. Then "Winky'' sent his name down in history at Leicester by drawing the game by means of a phenomenal kick from half-way, after a mark had been made. either by that grand forward. Will Joseph, of Swansea, or else the fragile j Bobby Brice. The goal-kicking on each side was somewhat carious in this match. for "Winky" kicked two converted goals, besides his wonderful mark-goal, and on the English side there was a converted goal and a penalty, together with two tries that were not goals. Scotland beat Wales at Edinburgh in 1895 by a goal to a dropped goal, and again at Edinburgh in 1899 by two dropped goals and one penary, with three tries. to two goals; so that Wales would have won by 2 goals to 3 tries if such iniquitous things as drop goals and penalties were thrown out of the game. The breaking of Cardiff's record by Llanelly last season by the kick, which was made up for. by the way. by Cardiff's bagging ot Llanelly's ground record this season; and the cracking of Swansea's record by Cardiff at St. Helen's this season, which was also amply made up for afterwards, are only a couple more examples of the value of correct kicking or goals, so that the value of a good goal- kicker to any team cannot be over-esti- mated. Every man in the Cardiff team practises goal-kicking, and every man can kick goals, so that the recent match- Cardiff v. Blackheath-was not turned into a farce, as al1eged, by giving Dai Wcstacott, Joe Pugsley, and Jack Powell kicks at goal, and no one knew better | that these men could kick goals than their c-aptafti,

International Pars. Ireland has only won two matebelb on Cymric soil since international matobe-swith 'Wajflae were instituted twenty-seven years ago. 'fwo years ago on the Cardiff Arms Park "Wales put up a record score of totir wa-is f and four tries against Ireland. Percy Bush that day played the most brilliant ,ga.me of, •-his cweer. Ia reply to a query some time ago it was erroneously stated that eilffht Newport- :pla"ro were in the Welsh team wuich defeated Scotland on the Raehnrn-plaoe cjrooBd in 1. munt>er should have been given as nine and not eigtit. The nine iwere A. J. (<oald, Bbft Gould, i. C. uraham, .A. W. Boueaer, ft. Day. i", L parfitt, Percy Phillips. J. fiuQan. and Wallace Watts. There is a strong feeling of indignation ,óiILOn¡: Cardiff sportsmen that J. L. "Vv llliams should he the only representative of the 'AVelgh ehainpions in the national team. 'Reggie Gibbs ovht to have been given hLa .plaee, %nd at one forward should have f' ,'bfeB elected'from the Ca-rdHf pack. Two .-years ago wlvfii Ireland played at Cardiff, the Swansea people had a precisely similar > Jrrie, It m probable that the English Union's new yround at Twickenham will he opened I with the Welsh match in January of next year. Tkere never was an international match which was regarded so much as a foregone 1 nooehtsion as that Nat a single .person could be founlt who favoured Ireland's chancea of g. and the general antiei- nation was that of a. vjctory for Wales by about fifteen pointje. j

THE tR I Sh I FrLlz-T? <CK G. J. HKXKBiiY ?t.?R?do-?r? );—fo f-doubt the fact, that ?? tfif? wre 'soored aga.m? Ifei&od ?tween the H?yti?h and Scottish nmtcftes weighed strojaziy with the ælec- l tien e<?mutitt<?wh?oit<'aiu? t? considering the qm?tKM* of th? tu?t-tmek f??r a W?wh Tn?t<-?. Hinton. no <i?uM. ?fta in a long kid.. but. lie ?- i()w aiii unwieldy, and. on i tha wbole oB!v p)?y? modera?Jy this iooaao-n. H-i n**bry. who takes his place. is not, new to intei oaticoal toot'-all, for in HM he piaytd atainst iviwdaud, Scotland, and Wa ten. and also tne Moth Africans, la that soasou Irelaiul beat England and W&-th latter a sensational game at I Belfast. Hy birth Hec?ry. ? a Minister m4n, aDd UR? l fr?ut.ntiy pre,,ented h)e p?ovijt?, Wheu he at?t ca.o? to DoMin. w b e" b? M now t?Tn?xad io eba.itW pra?w.?M?n. b<- played for ]?c?tive Eanms, h? M ?tw y?ttr? he !Ms?;e?).i a member of L»«»dow«e Club. He is a. ?ry soaw4 T<M)k(?) AdA a ;ood kMk. and far lI\ore1 bi.. <? rising to an fM-?aaMO than JHnH?. Be is 28 ye?- ed <?< 8tands 5ft. toill., a."d weighs 12st 21b. BACKS T. J. <.r:bMVK-' ?orth ot IretaMid), wiio was I'laiaw" Mt t?<! <?t<?e ?'?<? ia ?{' c#,n re of tius tiiree^uartcr !m?'. i? a w?L!- h?}? \?tjn? fellow, a.?cd :!it ogr.?"Yttt, 6ft. 'n h4Q:M. aiui weijfca 13a.t..41h. Be played in 19U1 iÐ all the lrieoh internationals, but AtMtft-iue-d an ii^n»jr to his eoWaTbone, which j»ut, bus out ci the running last seaeon and frOW taking pant In this year's trial mfttehe*; but he ,i»r ajl ribt again. He w a &L"g runuer. vale deleter, an-d> a -vory (: handler. His isp-iendtd liiektng atone I wH-l lw oi srrait hi lp to Ireland, and in c he«>fci r hirp int-teau of rovefting to the wing tAt6 wtor.. would -4Cela have dõn", the rig-hi. thing. Hi selection has with Pleasure in Belfast, for a more peatlw^Lnly or popular player is uot ill the Irish com- meilit capital. B. T^UJFT iWandi- rers).—When his time in Trinity was up Thrift, who bad done such ?e? *ar\iec for L't? Vity. I *wwkr*p«. Xot o?ty hJ i?- ) dif?'t- ffaishei < aro&r as a iiurby footoalier in e«Ue*e. for He also attained the distinction of beeomiug a Jubwh- kVlli'W. On tile foot- ba-!i ftcld or uo the tralek Thrift is the HiBeediest man that, Trinity has had inside it* walls for mote than a Iecade. He lAs.8 won all the slJorin-t races in college, be«i<le« the tOO vnrds auJ 220 yards chainpion»bipfc of I re) a xid. 'r/'fII is uo doubt he is one of the best wiii|f thre<f-<iuartera Irolaii-Li b," wet ka-d. 1141> has a wotiderf turn of eppea, and xo.4 with a rare dah for the 1.De. His fure to score this year in th« t'?iid; and M'&tti&h ma)t<-b<? is entirely dn^ to tW f;wt Oa, hi? centre, Pan ke. payd an -eh.h same. Thrift, who ?ta.y? ot. U1Q F?? w; is 27 y?aj'? of ase. "i"l gRa., and weighs list. 41b. J. C. PAJKE tMo.tk?jwi?. iike Thrat. had J. a <Matta?ut?)?(f CZ;?? in Trmity. but on leaving he ju'r.^ri ilonkstown, instead of W. Rt. is Quite an old hand now •as a eetvtrer tw-qhriTe-i' for Ireland. but he appears to have seen Iliii best day, Latterly h" ha-, become very selfish, and his h.Jil: oa ,o,t:s many chanced to his j,oif,k. He 's better in defetwe than attack. Parke is 27 veaj-s of ugis, »Uuid* 3ft. 910.. and weighs 1.01b. C. THOMPSON iftiflfasu (Joi-legiatis). three- quarter. j about 25 years old, Sft. 7iti. in I V>i#fcit. and wpiyfce l2»t. 31b. This is bis third >»• a» '.wter lar-ional. He has played in the two pre* uw-> iuternaticual matches this -easo.' centre three-quarter, hut in the c ;nl t "?'? 'Vai<"< will Le i^o th? right wins. 1" a !Ie pi",w f Mr. Alexander Thoaii. -imi M'—'?. T?atp?m U-.id ?.,tj?. dtt ;<«!i.-<'?'?"<'? a:>d |>r<i- ttr?t?r?. |i.»mgi'iv-^aee, 11. ^tid in I'n-¡IJ. i aii ;*s-'Ist.ui: in the extensive and fiiibci" coaeeni oi' iIe.i, ainl t? Late head cf which, WU? I T%;n?c4 Tr??T). 8a,n.. M.P., twice Lord 1 11ë.¥;).' HAltfVBACKS: t FRED M'CORMAC (Wanderers), who gets I his cap for the &r»t time a»a']ast Wales to-day, is one of twin b-rot'jers, both of whom play football. If was while they were studying in London that, Mr. Martin 1 Doyle, the hon. secretary c)-, L-m- London Iriiyii; discovered both Fred and Herbert j M Cormax*. Ireiand'g new half-baok entered the Civil Service in London, and was sent to Dublin about four yer, ago. He joined Jiie. VVandet-ers' Clab. and originally played full-back, but for the past Ibarra years has been doing invaluable J a.tI,ali. I-t. was only this season i that he "a given a trial for Leiuster against XJl^tsr, and in that matclr he did not play very, well, but with all the cho-p- pin- and ehaae-iny he now finds himself, in the coveted, position of an international half-back. His selection is a popular one, for tt?e policy of plavin- Gardin?r h?if- back wa-s not generally approve. M'Cormac who is 25 years of a?. is rather on the fisil Fide, w?isrhm? probably voder lOEt d tan, about 5ft. 8in. GEOR,OE P,i-?%N <L'?t??iacs and 0.ECRG-E 'Limsa?hirt? haBf-back. M only. 21 y??rs of asre, stands ?ft. 9;in., and weighs Itet. 1Mb. H? is new to mte1'1lÚlon.a.l.! hanou?s this year. His father, wh? is-tile manager for the Cheshire Lines Rail- wa" Committee^ was a very cleT?r Rng?y ptay?r in hM young day?. and, besides bavins' been the half-mile- cna-mpion of Ijwland, has for several years been a vice- president of the Irish Rugby Union, Young Pin-ion is em-ptoyed in a mercantile house in Liverpool, where be resides with his parents. FORWARDS: I T SMYTHE <Malone and Newport, Mon.), for- ward. is a resident p-u-pil in Newport and Monmouth Hosnital. Aged about 24, he is 5ft. 10,in. in height, anil weighs about 13et. lib. This is his second season as an inter- national. He is well known in "ebh Rugby- circt€ having been p!?y?m? in the Princi- circles, all through the present season. H. G. WILSON (MaJoae and Glasgow Uni- versity i. forward, is 26 years of age, 5ft. lljin. in lieigfct, and one of the heaviest men in the team, weighing, as he does, 13s t. 101b. He is a medical student in G-lasg'ow UDiversity. He has been playing —' Ætbe past seseu seasons, and is as hard- ■wdyliiHg, consi»t»Ht, and reliable a forward Is in the team. OttlVKR J. A. PIPER was horn in Aberavon, j of Irish parentage, received his early Rugby training with Aberavon junior dabs, and left Wa?s in 1898 for Cork. I Whitst ;erviug ui? apprenticeship at ship- buifdin? on the Clyde. he P'?yed for Partick Hill and B,rsden. 'w"t Glasgow ,.Juœ of rewte. Whilst fulfalinga busin?? engagement at the commencement of this season he assisted the Hartlepool Rovers ¡ (Durham etipholdea and inter-county league champions). Piays for Cork Con- stitution. IfeigILt 5ft. gill weight about 13st.. aged 23. GEORGE HAMLET (til A Wesley) is well I kpown in Wales. He has represented Ire- land for several seasons, and is of the I robust order, a hard trier all the time. if not exactly what might be called clever. j tIe probably never played a batter game in his life tdiazi in a cup tie last Saturday, in' which his club beat Clontarf. Hamlet stands 6ft. Giin., weighs lost 31b., and is 27 j years of ag B. -A.. SOLoOMO:SS il)oblin fj'nivrsity} is a very fine out of forward and clever out of to-uch. A hard worker and brilliant in toe loose, lie does invaluable service for his J llJ:lherty. He is 25 years of a?e. ?tandi. 5fL 9in.. and weighs 12st. 7]b. M't? 9iGaA.. RBt (B?ctive Bangers) secured his M. a? for the first time against England on February 6. He is a native of Limerick, an4 his first association with Rugby foot- ball was while he was a i-tudeut at Cres-ent College, Limerick. After playing for a tejfitt, called Thomond. he c&nie to Dublin aaM joined Bective Rangers. He is at present studying medicine, is captain of the Richmond Hospital Football Club. and played for the Irish against the English Medioals in London recently. He is a very genuine, hard-trying forward, standing just 6ft.. weighing 13st., a.nd h" only j-uA turned 21 years of age. 2 S. BI?CKHAM (Queen's CoMe??. Cork) secured his place against Scotland, in which match he played a really g-ood game. He was passed over when it came to having a place for Gardiner in the back. Owing to the latter's inability to travel, Bla-ckham 150 again included in the Irish forward division. Ho is rather below the weig-.ht of the usual Munster forward division. He is of a clever type,we.i.g'hing a little over 12fct.. stands qU. Sin., .and is only 21 years or age. •» THOMAS iALP,IN '(Garryowenl is 26 years of age. stands 5ft. 10in and weighs some- thing over tZst. He learned his football with the- Shanitou Football Club, and after playiijg- forward with marked success he j&incd GArryow?n $ve years ago, and bae plaYed iB aTi the cape contests ?icce. Twj years ago he was chosen for inter- provincial'honours, and to-day plays in his second international. He is a. fine type of scrimmager, *nosse-ssed of a. good turn of speed, and has a. very good knowledge of the game.

Personal Paragraphs i SURRIDG E and SIMONS iDowlais) were great in defence at Troedyrhiw. JACK TUDOR, the old Llanbradach and Tre- harris player, now regularly assists Gilfach. BLAINA have a rema,rkably y&ua? three-  qUartr line. So far they have d<MM splendidly. TED GEORGE ^Pontlottyn Juniors) thor- I oughly deserves inter-league honours. lie is a clever all-round chao. ARTHUE BLAKE and LEN J. BODEY, the full-backs of the Ferndale Thursdays, were a tower of strength against Aberdfwe. GEORGE JENKINS (Nelson) is ra/pidly re- gaining hie old form. His touch-line ruras were a feature of t4,e game at Lianbradacih. W. WILLIAMS, the Fleur-de-Lis inside right, is noted for smart work. Some of the be&t goals scored on the Vicarage grounds was his. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT to Audi two better schoolboy backs than Jack Saunders and Dan Jones, of Pen gam County SSchool. GEORGE JAMES, the Fleur-de-Lis centre for- ward, is a. player tb;&t can be relied upon. j He oan also play a good game at back when required.

TWELVE OF THE IRISHMEN. I -"CO TOP ROW: H. (;. Wilson, C. Thoxnp.-ott, 11. Thrift, alid J. C. P8.l'Je..1 SECOND BOW: h. A. Sokwoaans, G. Piziou. M. G. Gan7, aiwi G. Haailet. BOTTOM SOW: T. Smyth. F. IVCOY=aek, O. K. Piper, and T. J. Grease*. Tito pboto ot PiIer is by R, bm4y ami Som, Oork. tQld tim of Greevee, by Heuebery, Belfast.

NEATH. I Neath, came a cropper last, Saturday, but it must be remembered- that they played weven substitutes. Neath players seem to dread visiting Llanelly. Why is it? "Srhou" Evans was absent from the Neath team, and he is the pivot of the all blacks. His absence alone was quite enough to imperil the chances of the Neath side. Add to this the absence of six others of the pick of the Neath side, and there is the explanation for defeat.

BRYN LEWIS (Fleur-de-Lis Rovers) is a good left wing, and noted for h-itf shooting abilities. BULLOCK (New Tredegra-r) improves in ewy match, and is rabidly cooning to the front as a centre forward. MINN HI-NICK CPontlottyn Southend) is one of the best forwards in the team. He is a clever dribbler and a sure shot. GEORGE MILLER is owe of the best forwards in the PontloEtyn BWby team. He is a fine sprinter aind a fearless tackier. PARSONS (Bedlinog) hae fully earned h.i8 seleetiott for inter-league ho-nonrs by his season's consistent work between the Bticlw. BKDDOE and LLOYD (Rhymney) both folly deserve their selection as reserve half-backs against the Cardiff and District League on Monday. NED HUGHES, the right wing of the Fern- dale Thursdays, was in fine form against Aberdare. He is the fastest and most clever player in the team. SPENCER WILLIAMS, Nelson's sterling centre half, has recently been down with sickness, bu t hopes to he fit for the inter-league ¡n;a,tc-h at Dowlais. AMBROSE PRITCH VRD, of the Deri Juniors, is improving in every match, and with a 'little more experience should develop into a first-clasfi forward. TOIM FERN (Blaina) is a grand forward. He is a keen scrimmager and a splendid player in the open. He should at least have shared county honours. RANDALL OWEN, secretary of Fontlottym Juniors, should have had more than one man in the inter-league match. Perhafps it was not altogether his fault. Doctor ORGAN (Brithdir) is to be congmtn. I lated on his selection for inter-league honou!?. His wen-set no'o? ?'?<1 Toba?t r,, give r4ae to ad?mir?tion on every ground. DAI THOMAS, the Pon,tw-diaw-e right wiu>g, ia proving u-,efull to the Valley team. He was in fine form against Gorseinon last Satur- day. scaring five tries. Pontardawe need not worry about a full back as long as "Dai" is at hand. G. SMITH, who plays forward for Pootar- dawe, fal though getting on in age, bas plenity of football in him yet. He does his share in scrimmaging, and is always ready for work in the apm. He is a splendid ooaoh for the "young blocd." HAROLD LAW is re-appearing for Blaina again. He fractured his wrist quite early in the season, but has now recovered. He will play as outside half, and in this posi- tion wiH be an acquisition. T. SIMMONDS is one of Blaina's best for- wards. He hails from Aberbeeg, and is Tnircruestionably a useful player. He is a. splendid dribbler, and as a tackier is hard to beat. FRANK HOLBROOKE, who scored for Bristol against Cardiff on February 2, and who has played for Gloucester County on several occasions, joined Bristol direct from Cardiff Sot. Albany, not Cardiff Row,illy. as stated. W. J. THOMiS, the stalwart forward of the Deri Juniors, is a player of no uieau repute, and displays great judgment in tbe open. It is a treat to witness" the method he has of opening out the game from a ) liae-out.