XLhc SDunelmtaru VOL. III.—NO. 13. DURHAM, MARCH 5, 1898. beaten by much less, and the only explanation we can jf o o t b a 11. offer is that Merchiston must this year be even better The goal-kicking competition for the caps presented than usual, and have met the School on the top of their by the Messrs. King, O. D's, came off on Tuesday, form. For the first time since these games were December 14th. Unfortunately the ground was very started, the School forwards were the heavier lot, and heavy and the wet state of the balls made accurate as the weight of the Merchiston pack has in great kicking impossible, and the competition suffered greatly measure been the cause of recent defeats we hoped that in consequence. There were twelve entries, and every 011 this occasion the stand made by the School would competitor was allowed three kicks from each of the be better. But what Merchiston lost in weight they distances marked out, the first kick being taken twenty made up for in smartness. On the straight pushing yards in front of goal and each succeeding one ten they were, as a rule, beaten by the School, but in the yards further back and ten yards nearer to touch. In loose play they were immensely superior. We have the case of the drop kicking the points marked out indeed seldom seen neater foot-work in any team. were all directly in front of goal, but at intervals of ten The result of their effective loose play was that the yards. The names and marks gained are given below. School backs had for the most part to play a defensive Mr. Harry King and Mr. G. C. Kerr acted as judges. game. They seldom had a fait chance of getting off, because, in spite of holding the scrums, the forwards PLACE KICKING.—J. W. Sagar, 15 ; J. Haythorn- thwaite, 9 ; H. F. D. Turner, 8 ; A. Aitken, 8 ; A. failed to get the ball as they should have done. Both Maughan, 6 ; C. M. Yates, 6 ; W. Price, 6 ; G. halves tackled well, and Sagar got through a great Winch, 5 ; W. Ayton, 4 ; J. A. Shawyer, 3 ; A. Hender- amount of work at centre, where he was well backed up son, o ; Bowmer, o. by Turner. The forwards, though working hard, were a little disappointing after what we have seen them do DROP KICKING.—A. Aitken, 8 ; J. W. Sagar, 7 ; during the season, and they obviously tired towards the H. F. D. Turner, 7 ; W. Ayton, 7 ; Bowmer, 7 ; J. finish. The game would have been won bv Merchiston Haythornthwaite, 4 ; C. M. Yates, 3 ; W. Price, 3 ; under any circumstances, but in comparing the play of A. Henderson, 2. the School in this match with some performances THE SCHOOL V. MERCHISTON.—The Fifteen travelled earlier in the season wa feel justified in saying that north on Wednesday, December 15th, and played they were a long way below their best form. In spite Merchiston at Edinburgh 011 the following morning. of the score the game was most interesting, and was The day fortunately was fine, and the ground in very played, as always, in the best spirit. We need hardly fair condition. The School started with the wind in add that the School were again most hospitably their favour, but were kept for some considerable time entertained, and appreciated very highly the remarks in their own half. After about fifteen minutes' play one which were made by Mr. Burgess at dinner after the of the Merchiston three-quarters got hold from a scrum game. Mr. H. B. Tristram was referee. on the School line and ran in at the corner flag. The kick at goal was difficult and failed. For some time School team :—Back, R. Hill ; three-quarter-backs, J. after dropping-out the School had the best of the play, Haythornthwaite, J. W. Sagar, H. F. D. Turner, and and by good scrum work forced the game. But the A. Henderson ; half-backs, C. M. Yates and R. C. loose play of the Merchiston forwards again brought Cumberlege ; forwards, A. W. Maughan, D. Pearson, the ball back to the School twenty-five, and their line W. Ayton, G. Winch, A. Jones, W. B. Smith, J. A. was twice crossed by the Merchiston wings, but in Shawyer, and A. D. Shafto. neither case was the place kick successful. On THE SCHOOL v. OLD DUNELMIANS.- This match was crossing over, the School played better than they had played 011 the School ground on Thursday, February done with the wind behind them, and a long dribble by 3rd. Unfortunately the O.D's were not able to place Yates and Turner took them close up to the Merchiston their best team in the field. The School pressed from line. But another loose forward rush again put the the beginning, but it was some time before there was School on the defensive in their own twenty-five and any score. After about twenty minutes' play, Sagar, Welsh scored the fourth try far out. In doing so he receiving from Cumberlege, ran through and scored ; unfortunately had his ankle badly hurt and was obliged Ayton converted. There was no further score before to leave the field. His loss, though serious, did not half-time. In the second half the game was more even, prevent Merchiston from adding to their score, and but good play was out of question, owing to the wet before time was called they ran in on two occasions, state of the ground. From a scramble near the O.D's but, as before, the place kicks failed. The final score, line A. Maughan picked up and scored between the therefore, was six tries to nil. posts ; Yates converted. Before the end the O.D's From the School point of view the result was were dangerous on several occasions but never certainly disappointing. We have seen several School managed to score, and time arrived with the result :—- School, 2 goals ; Old Dunelmians, nil. teams which were distinctly inferior to the present one THE DUNELMAN. R TH, 1898. School team :—Back, A. Haythornthwaite ; three- Thursday, but, against a good half, he would have been quarter-backs, A. E. Heskett, J. W. Sagar, H. F. stopped. In a school team, the passing ought to be as Turner, and J. Haythornthwaite ; half-backs, C. M. good as that of Newport or Cardiff, short and sharp Yates and R. C. Cumberlege ; forwards, A. W. right along the line, and then back again if necessary. Maughan, D. Pearson, W. A. Ayton, G. H. Winch, A. The forwards seemed good, but had a bad habit of Jones, J. A. Shawyer, W. B. Smith, and A. D. Shafto. shouting ' down ' and then carrying the ball away four O.D. team :—Back, R. Hill ; three-quarter-backs, or five yards. By all means put it down quickly, but S. A. Sadler, W. W. Sagar, N. Clark, and C. put it down fairly. But, 011 the whole, I congratulate Wilkinson ; half-backs, B. Sadler and J. Hutchinson ; you all heartily on your play, and hope to see many of forwards, W. Willan, G. F. Bell, A. A. Longden, F. E. you playing for England in future years. It only Hewitt, T. F. Allden, S. J. G. Hall, E. Appleby, requires a little self-denial and perseverance." and M. Buchannan. THE SCHOOL v. DARLINGTON.- Played on Saturday, There were two changes in the team of last term. A. February 19th. The School kicked off against the Haythornthwaite played back in place of Hill, who has wind and immediately began to press. After a short unfortunately left, while Heskett took Henderson's time, after some good passing among the backs, place on the wing. It would be unfair to criticize them Haythornthwaite scored a fine try far out ; Ayton's on the day's play, as the slippery state of the ground kick hit the post. After this the whole of the School gave them very little chance. The halves were both team went to bits, and some bad mistakes were made. good, while the forwards all worked hard and did what A bad mull by A. Haythornthwaite let the Darlington was required of them. forwards in, and they scored under the posts. Still the School team continued to play badly, but just before THE SCHOOL V. MR. KERR'S XV.—Played on Thursday, half-time they recovered themselves, and from an February ioth. Mr. Kerr's team included F. R. opening by Sagar, Haythornthwaite again scored ; Alderson and H. Yeoman, of Hartlepool Rovers, R. C. Ayton converted. Half-time soon arrived with the Stevenson and G. R. Gibson, of Northern, H. E. School pressing hard. In the second half the School Galloway, A. C. Lumsden, and J. G. Joicey, of North played much better and pressed nearly the whole of the Durham, while most of the rest were Durham 'Varsity time. After a round of passing Henderson got over in men. The School had the best of the game throughout, the corner, but was pushed into touch. From now to as the Scratch forwards were too weak to hold ours. In the end the School pressed, but were unable to break the first half, tries were scored for us by Winch, Yates through the Darlington defence. A rough and exciting and J. Haythornthwaite, only one goal being kicked. game thus ended in a victory for the School by a goal In the second half, Yates, J.