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.
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