In fine, though rather dull, weather this
annual international match, the tenth of the series, was played on the
Surrey Cricket Ground, in London, on Saturday afternoon. The early
morning was gloomy, and in the city the fog was dense; but fortunately
the weather improved as the day advanced. Play commenced at a quarter
past three o'clock, there being about four thousand spectators on the
ground to witness the match A kick off by Ker for Scotland was the
signal for commencing hostilities, and both sides were at once busy.
Scotland kicking out gave their opponents a throw-in, and the
Scotchmen soon retaliated. After a neat run
on the left by Hargreaves, Bailey soon got a chance of a
throw-in, not many yards from the Scotch line, and though the ball was
got away, Mitchell (goal) bearing down quickly regained the lost
ground. Watson, with an effective piece of play, stayed the English
advance, but the home team returned to the charge, and Rostron took
aim at the Scottish goal, which had a narrow escape. The combined play
of the visitors now gave the English backs some trouble, and although
Hawtrey was once able to avert a disaster, a judicious cross by
M'Guire proved successful, Smith securing the downfall of the English
goal after the lapse of ten minutes. A clever run by M'Neil was the
first event after the renewal, and though the
English forwards made good runs their
organisation was, as usual, inferior to that of their opponents,
Hunter resisted one dangerous attack, but an infringement of the
handling rule by one of the English forwards gave an opening to
Scotland, and a goal was got but disallowed, the off-side rule having
been infringed. Some judicious crossing between Holden, Macaulay, and
Mitchell, excited the spectators, but the applause was transferred
when the Scottish forwards came away in a line, and Hawtrey had to do
all he knew to stop a terrific shot by Ker. A run by Bambridge
elicited another demonstration, and a corner kick to England increased
the excitement, though Hunter's attempt was got away by the Scotch
backs. Ker and Hall in succession approached within range of the
English goalkeeper. who just averted a shot by the latter. After
'hands' to Scotland, a corner kick was given to the Scotchmen, and the
forwards being well supported by the fine back play of Campbell and
Vallance, gave Hawtrey no small cause for anxiety. Mitchell at this
time was very busy in the centre for England, and more than once he
was applauded for his good dribbling. A long throw-in by Bailey, after
a pretty run by Bambridge, gave Hunter another corner kick, but the
Scottish forwards, passing with great judgement, burst away far into
the English half, and a well-aimed shot by Smith required all
Hawtrey's vigilance. A short run by Bambridge gave Wilson a chance,
and a tremendous shot was all but successful, Gillespie's excellent
defence being thoroughly appreciated by the spectators. Again
Bambridge came to the fore with a useful run for England, but although
Wilson's back play was just about this period was masterly, the
Scottish forwards were pressing their opponents when the call of
half-time was heard. After the change of ends M'Auley kicked off for
England, and the Scotchmen went away at a rare pace immediately.
Chiefly through the exertions of Mitchell and Bambridge the home team
were able to retaliate, and twice they got dangerously close to the
enemy's goal, Gillespie on one of these occasions getting the ball
dexterously away. Some clever crossing between the Scotch forwards and
a clever run by Lindsay and Ker in the centre gave the visitors once
more the advantage, but Hargreaves and Mitchell, with judicious
crossing, replied effectually, and Holden, getting well away on the
right, improved matters considerably. England appealing, secured a
free kick for 'hands' close to the Scottish goal line, but Ker getting
possession of the ball dodged several of his adversaries, and he was
getting very dangerous when Bailey fortunately interfered for England.
A good run by Smith was followed by a corner kick for Scotland, and
though Bambridge and Hargreaves crossing neatly removed the ball for a
time, it was soon back in the English quarters. Vallance and Campbell
were untiring in their resistance to the attacks of the home forwards,
the latter especially at this time doing good service, the former
passing to Ker, the Queen's park centre took his shot, and though
Hawtrey cleverly stopped this, Hall was so close backing up that he
was able to obtain Scotland's second goal ten minutes after the
change. A fine run by Ker marked the renewal of hostilities, and
another goal by Smith soon afterwards had to be disallowed for
off-side. Hargreaves next made himself conspicuous with a good run for
England, and after some passing between Bambridge and Holden, the
latter made a well directed attack on the Scottish goal, which was
well saved by Gillespie. A neat display of passing between Hargreaves
and Mitchell gave England a momentary advantage, and Bambridge having
the ball sent to him, after a short run with a rare shot, landed a
goal for England, to the exuberant gratification of the onlookers.
Twenty-five minutes were left, and the Scotchmen only one goal in
hand, but they improved as the game advanced, and within a few minutes
Ker added another goal to their credit. 'Hands' against Scotland was
the next incident, and after a run by Mitchell the ball was brought
back into the vicinity of the English goal. There a sharp tussle took
place, and Field, in trying to repel the attack, kicked the ball
between his posts. The play was now decidedly in favour of Scotland,
and Campbell sending the ball to Smith, the latter headed the fifth
goal for Scotland. Ten minutes were left, and soon after the
resumption another score was got for Scotland and disallowed. Some
good play was shown by Macauley, Bambridge, and Mitchell, but they
were not well supported, and just before the finish Ker made the
victory of Scotland still more decisive with the sixth goal.
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