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This great international encounter was played at Bramall-lane Ground,
Sheffield, on Saturday, and attracted an attendance of from eight to
ten thousand spectators. Though the weather was very inclement, the
sun shone out with spring-like brilliance throughout the day and
mitigated the severity of the frost considerably, thawing the frozen
ground, and contrary to anticipation, rendered the ground fairly
playable. The highest interest appeared to be centred in the match,
and fully an hour before the time announced for the kick-off the gates
were besieged by hundreds of eager enthusiasts desirous of securing a
good position. The large extemporised stand running nearly the full
length of the sphere of play was filled by a large crowd of ladies and
gentlemen. The Scotch captain won the toss, and set England to
kick-off towards the town with the glaring sun shining right before
them. Goodhart started the ball, and after a couple of fine runs by
Holm, H. Cursham on the left secured possession and effected a short
run, but he was clearly off-side. Fraser responded with a run on the
right, and Inglis had a shot at the English goal, but he was wide of
the mark. A. W. Cursham followed with a run on the right, and England
got a corner, but Bailey dropped the ball outside. Soon afterwards
Whateley had a shy at the Scotch fort, and England secured two more
corners, the Caledonians being decidedly pressed, and Goodhart directed
a shot at their goal which just cleared the cross-bar. The Scots now
broke away, but Paravicini returned the leather. Anderson and Fraser
then introduced a pretty combined run on the right and a corner was
the result of their efforts, but it proved pointless. The Scotch,
however, got the advantage of a foul forty or fifty yards from goal,
and Macpherson dropping the ball well up, Smith rushed in and scored
the first goal for the Caledonians amid vociferous cheering. On
resumption, the Scotch obtained another corner, but nothing accrued,
and then a shot by Macrae was splendidly saved by Holm. Still another
corner to Scotland followed and Fraser took it, but it was soon flying
in neutral territory. Hereabouts H. Cursham executed the most
brilliant run of the day, but McAulay eventually nullified his
exertions. Notwithstanding this, the English returned to the assault,
when Whateley centred finely to Mitchell, who went on, and, evading
the Scotch custodian, scored the first goal for England, wild applause
rewarding the feat. On resumption, McKinnon had a shot at the English
stronghold, and soon afterwards Kay, having effected a run on the
left, centred to Dr. Smith, who secured a second goal for Scotland. A
few minutes later matters were equalised, as after a clever run in the
centre Mitchell passed to Cobbold, and the latter again reduced the
Scotch stronghold amid deafening plaudits. With scores even excitement
now ran high, but half-time was called without further score. The sun
had partly disappeared on change of ends, but it was still a little
obstructive, though hardly so much to the Scotch as it had been to the
English. For fully ten minutes the Caledonian team kept peppering away
at the English citadel, and had it not been for the brilliant defence
of Macrae, Jones, Paravicini, and Bailey, the fortress must have been
captured. Macpherson had a shot which just grazed over the cross-bar,
and Smith also steered the ball over the bar. Corners followed to both
sides, and the English playing up more strongly, they fired several
shies at the Caledonian fort, but the custodian and backs were always
on the alert, and warded off the danger. England once were within an
ace of scoring, only a brilliant piece of business by McAulay saving
his goal. Time after time were assaults made upon either citadel, but
all to no effect. Whateley, H. Cursham, Jones, Goodhart, Macrae,
Mitchell, and Cobbold exerted themselves like lions on the one side,
as did Paton, Holm, Fraser, Kay, Miller, and Inglis on the other; but
time was approaching, and the match looked decidedly like ending in a
tie—two goals each. The Scotch, however, after a brilliant run on the
left by Kay, got up in a body, and the player named centring to Smith,
he put the ball through the posts amid deafening plaudits. Ten seconds
later time was called, leaving Scotland victorious by three goals to
two. It will be noticed that Smith obtained all three goals for
Scotland.
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England
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Match
Summary
