Umpires

The fifth international match between representatives teams of the English and Welsh Association took place on the ground of the Surrey County Cricket Club at Kennington Oval, on Saturday last, in the presence of about 2,000 spectators. The Welsh team were in crimson and white, whilst the English were in white. The ground was in fair condition, but still rather heavy from the recent rains. Powell, winning the toss, elected to commence from the Crown Baths or western goal, and at five minutes past three Bailey kicked off for England from the Clayton-street side of the ground, but principally through the actions of Owen, Roberts, and Davies, the ball was speedily returned to the home territory, when it went behind. Swepstone kicking off, the English eleven at once followed up the attack vigorously, and within a few minutes the Welsh goal was in jeopardy, a good shot by E. C. Bambridge nearly sending the ball through the posts. The visitors' backs, however, performed most energetically, and by a determined effort the danger was not only averted, but an incursion made into the home territory. Here Bailey, de Paravicini, Russell, and H. Cursham were found extremely difficult to pass, and after some fast and clever dribbling from both sides, the game was again in the favour of England, when after a series of smart passing between Goodhart, E. C. Bambridge, H. Cursham, and Mitchell, the last-named found little difficulty in sending the ball under the crossbar, thus scoring the first goal for England after about a quarter of an hour's play. For some time afterwards the play was very even; Bailey, E. C. Bambridge, A. Cursham, Goodhart, and Mitchell being most indefatigable in their efforts for the home eleven, whilst Hughes, Owen, Roberts, Powell, and Davies were equally as energetic for the visitors, but although each goal was in turn threatened, nothing further of a decisive character was scored until the first portion of the game was drawing to a close, when a combined rush, followed by a good run by E. C. Bambridge, enabled that player to score the second goal for England. After changing ends the Englishmen soon began to show the better advantage, and not many minutes elapsed before E. C. Bambridge, again gaining possession, passed to A. Cursham, who scored the third goal for England. The Welshmen, however, despite these reverses, continued to make a gallant defence, and frequent incursions were made into the home territory, but here the aggressors invariably found the English backs on alert; Bailey and M'Rae being particularly busy, and as Russell and de Paravicini rarely missed an opportunity, the attacks of their opponents were always successfully repelled. Despite the good play of the visitors the latter portion of the play was entirely in favour of the English Eleven, for whom Mitchell was twice in quick succession enabled to score, and thus left the field victor in the 'conqueror' match—each side having previously gained two wins—by five goals to nil.
   

       Match Report The Times, Monday, 5 February 1883

Representatives of the Association game in England and Wales met on Saturday at Kennington-oval to play their annual match. The weather was delightfully fine, and an exceptionally large number of spectators were present. Play began soon after 3 o'clock, when Wales, who had won the toss, took up their station at the western goal, which gave them the advantage of the wind at their backs...
Goodhart now carefully conducted the ball down the centre of the ground and passed it to H. A. Cursham, who in turn kicked it over to E. C. Bambridge, who shot it between the posts...
At length E. C. Bambridge carefully steered the ball along the left side, and, eluding the efforts made to stop him, sent it under the bar, thus gaining the second point for the home team...
After one or two attacks by their forwards, E. C. Bambridge again distinguished himself by an expert run, and, passing the ball to A. W. Cursham, the Nottingham player gained a third goal. It was not long before Mitchell shot the ball between the posts for the English. The Welsh strove hard to stem the tide which had set in against them, but to no purpose, as the ball was again forced back on their lines, and Mitchell secured a further goal...