We cannot boast of much success in the Football field during the
Christmas term, 7 matches were played, out of which we only managed to
win 2, the other .5 being lost. We opened the season well by defeating a
fair scratch team to the tune of 4 goals, 5 tries to nil, the form shown in
this match gave promise of a prosperous season. Unfortunately for us,
Cranston, who was shaping very well at | back, left school after the fi
two matches, and Craven who took his place was prevented from playing
owing to a broken collar bone.
Everybody seemed quite off colour in the Brecon match; we owe our
defeat mainly to the superiority of their outside men, who were a much
faster lot than usual, showing great pace, notwithstanding the bad state of
the ground. The form shown against Llandovery was a general surprise,
when last year's performance is considered. Both the forwards and out-
sides played a splendid defensive game, and rarely gave the opposing
} backs a chance. The O. H's., who brought down a very strong team
just managed to lower our colours after a fast and exciting game.
The weak point throughout the team this year, is tackling; there is,
however, one grand exception in Henry, whose tackling is quite a feature.
The passing and kicking are very good, Rudge at centre £ being particu-
larly good in the latter department, kicking equally well with either foot.
• Of the other outsides, C. Leslie Jones has been invaluable, also Lord's
pace has proved most useful.
The forwards are a very fair lot, but (except on rare occasions, e.g.,
Llandovery match), wanting in dash and pace ; the dribbling has greatly
improved, Ouming and Croft, who use their feet very well, showing best
form in this respect ; while L. H . Leslie-Jones and H. E. Knight have done
a lot of hard scrummage work.
Misfortune has dogged our steps so far, and seems bent on following
us to the end of the season, its latest freak being to deprive us of the servi-
ces of Croft and Armitage, who left at Christmas ; but in spite of this we
hope for better things this term
The first XII last term was as follows ;—
* E. E. White (Captain). f C. C. Lord.
J. S. Cuming. L. H. Leslie-Jones,
t H. Rudge. H. E. Knight,
j C. Leslie-Jones. H. A. C'roft.
* F. A. Leslie-Jones. j F. Henry.
C. Armitage. I). Marshall.
* Plays half-back. + Plays three-quarter back. j Plays full back
H.C.S. v. J. CRANSTON'S TEAM.
This match was played on the Cricket Ground, October I3th.
J. Cranston brought a fair team, comprising R. H. Symonds-Tayler, and
several of the Hereford City team ; being -a scratch team they were no
match for the School combination, the result being a win for H C.S. by
4 goals, 5 tries to nil. After the first 15 minutes play, H.C.S. scored, the
try being secured by C. Leslie-Jones. Having broken the ice the School
were not slow to score again. During the whole of the second half we
were busy running in and having shots at goal, when ' no side ' was called
the score stood as stated above. For H.C.S. C. Leslie-Jones was in great
form, getting in no less than 5 times, Rudge also kicked and ran very well.
H.C.S. v HEREFORD CITY.
Played on the Barrack Ground, Oct. lyth. The Town had got together
a strong combination, comprising men from Gloucester, Ledbury, and
Newent, so that a hard game was expected. Hereford started the ball and
play settled in School quarters. The brothers Jenkins, of Gloucester, gave
us a lot of trouble, several times being within an ace of scoring However,
by hard " scrum " work, we forced the oval into their half. At this point
C. Leslie-Jones was conspicuous by a grand run down the ground, only just
failing tc^score. Good passing among the School backs resulted in Crans-
ton, by a smart run, grounding the ball over the Town goal line. The
kick—a hard one. taken by Cuming, just went wide of the post. Thij
reverse put the Town on their mettle, George, of Gloucester, doing some
hard work for them, the result being that play was carried into the School
half, Jenkins then managed to get through the School backs and obtained
a try, a goal resulting. Nothing further was scored before half time. On
resuming, the School defending the Barrack end, hard scrummaging was
the order of the day, Lord and Cuming showing up with several good
dribbles, which enabled us to act on the offensive, but this was not for
long, for Sharpe, of Hereford, receiving a pass from Leather took advantage
of an opening and got in near the corner flag, the kick proving abortive
Loose "scrums" in the School "twenty-five" followed, and White
relieving the pressure by a good dodgy run passed to C. Leslie-Jones, who
in turn transferred to Rudge, th? latter punting into touch, Jenkins scored
for Hereford soon after this, but the major point was not registered. The
final score was Hereford City, one goal 2 tries, Cathedral School one try.
H. C. S. v. TRINITY COLLEGE, S I'RATFORD-ON-AVON.
This match was played at Worcester, on Wednesday, October 3Oth,
and after a very hard contested game, ended in a win for Trinity College
by I goal to nil. Cuming started the ball and the game settled in the
Trinity " 2 5 " ; however, good kicking and running by R and G Cattell,
transposed the play to the Hereford line, but by hard scrummaging, the
School forwards worked their way into neutral territory. > From a pass by
White, C. Leslie-Jones made a fine run only just failing to score. Shortly
betore half-time, G. Cattel ran in for Trinity, Fosberry successfully nego-
tiating the kick. After half-time the play was very hard and fast; Trinity
pressing, but being unable to score, owing to the good tackling of the
Hereford backs. For the last quarter of an hour, Hereford assumed the
aggressive, but notwithstanding their strenuous efforts to score, were
unable to do so. ' N o side' was called, with the score as above stated.
For Trinity College, R. and G. Cattell at three-quarter back, and Cochrane
and Miller forward, were most conspicuous. The School forwards played
a hard game, but gave their outside men very little chance by keeping the
ball too close in the packed " scrum." Cuming and Knight did a lot of
hard work, while in the open, Lord and L. Leslie-Jones dribbled and tackled
well. Behind the scrummage, the School collaring was very good, though
the tendency was to go for the men too high : C Leslie-Jones and Henry
were perhaps the most conspicuous in this department.
The following were the teams :—Trinity College: Back, H.G.Coventry:
three-quarterbacks, R. H. Cattell (capt.), G. L. Cattell, C. L. Fosberry;
half-backs, H. Y. Radley, W. F. Vernon ; forwards, E. Cochrane, D.
Weston, C. P. Lee, T. M. Bremner, S. W. Humphries, C. S. Miller. H.C.S :
Back, F.Henry : three-quarter backs, C. Leslie-Jones, H. Rudge, C. Craven :
half-backs, E. E. White (capt.), F. A. Leslie-Jones: forwards, C. C. Lord,
J S Cuming, L. H. Leslie-Jones, H. E. Knight, D. D. Marshall, H. Croft,