IMSII RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION /re/and Scof/aW The Athletic Stores specialise in the supply of High Grade Equipment for every Sport and for the rodramrvie past seventy years have been truly ULSTER S _ _ HEADQUARTERS Known the world over and made International AT RAVENHILL by Internationals. SATURDAY, 27th FEBRUARY, 1954 Boofs—the "ELMER-COTTON" with fixed or screw-in studs. The finest boot KICK-OFF 3 P.M. for the game. PRINCIPAL CLUB AND SCHOOL COLOURS ALWAYS IN STOCK Sole Agents for: — The "Triple Crown" Rugby ball as used by the foremost Clubs and in the International Matches. PRICE D. THE ATHLETIC STORES LTD,, U S ecre!ary 15-21 WELLINGTON PLACE, BELFAST. 6 PHONE. 20491 (3 lines) Introduction . pulliy-poiver FTER an interval of 44 years, a Scottish International team A again plays Ireland in Belfast, where the first match between the two countries was played 77 years ago. This annual fixture was played alternatively in Belfast and Glasgow or Edinburgh until the 1893-4 season, when it was taken to Dublin, and it then alternated between Dublin and Belfast, save for a spell in Dublin in the early years of the century, though Belfast /lusliiu are ahead i had the honour of housing the 1910 game at Balmoral Show­ grounds, Scotland winning by 14 points to 0. This was the last occasion on which the dark blue of the Scots was seen here, so that the match to-day is the first to be played between Ireland and Scotland at Ravenhill. We give our Scottish friends a warm welcome to the Northern capital. In the early days of the Internationals, Scotland proved supreme, winning 24 of the first 33 games and drawing three, Ireland having only six successes in that time. The games were interrupted during the war of 1914-18, and that of 1939-45, but since the second resumption Ireland has done remarkably well, winning all seven games played since, eight in a row including that played at Lansdowne Road in the year war broke out. Of the last twelve matches Ireland has won eleven, and Scotland's Likeable, lively, A40 SOMERSET . whipping last success on Irish soil was in 1933. smoothly from rest to 30 m.p.h. in under seven In both world wars, many men who had played for both countries laid down their lives, and in the hard and trying years seconds . sailing serenely along at 70. The of the second conflict, those who served kept the game alive and passengers enjoy the journey . the driver delights raised large sums of money, by representative games, for in it. All's well with the world when you see it by charities. Scotland beat England 21-6 at Inverleith in 1942 and 8-5 at Wembley in the same season. Many followers of Rugby Austin. will recall wartime games at Ravenhill—-an Army XV, eleven points behind at half-time, beating Ireland 12-11. While you look forward to your new Austin — Ireland's victory at Murrayfield last season was the most look after your present Austin. Let us keep it in decisive they had ever achieved, 26 points to 8. England also beat Scotland by exactly the same score. top condition for you Scotland's display against the All Blacks two weeks ago has definitely established that they are certain to test Ireland to THE AUSTIN DISTRIBUTORS •the utmost. They have got together a grand pack, but for­ tunately the Irish forwards appear to have found their true form against England and we should see a great battle for supremacy. Behind the scrum Ireland have not been notably successful this season and the opposition line has not been crossed in the games against France, England and the All Blacks, Ireland's last try having been scored against Wales at Swansea nearly a year ago. DONEGALL SQUARE, BELFAST. To-day Ireland has a new Out Half in S. Kelly, of Lansdowne, who, by all accounts, is a clever player, and a great deal is expected from him. He has proved a prolific scorer for his club, AUST I N -you can depend on it) but in the trials this season he was in the centre and was not conspicuously successful in the three-quarter line. 1 Who's Who on the Irish Team ^t'odraynrjae oj \JJlustc By kind permission of Lt.-Colonel D. H. TADMAN, D.S.O., O.B.E., THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS, under Mr. L. E. STOCKHAM, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M., will play:— R. J. GREGG (Full Back) (Queen's University)—5 feet 8J inches; 11 stone 8 lbs. Toured Argentine with Irish team in 1952 and gained his March " March of the Peers " Sullivan first cap against France last season, and played in all the matches, but a damaged thumb kept him out of the side against the All Blacks. Overture " Orpheus in the Underworld " Offenbach Selection " Harry Lauder's Songs " Arr. Ord Hume « -if M. MORTELL (Right Wing) (Bective Rangers)—5 feet 81 inches; Selection " South Pacific " Rogers 10 stone 10 lbs. Scored in three of the four matches last season when playing on the left wing. Playing on the right this season, but has not Selection " Call Me Madam " Berlin had many chances. Fantasia " Grand Military Tattoo " Rogan N. J. HENDERSON (Right Centre) (N.I.F.C.)—5 feet 11 inches; Fantasia " Songs of the Hebrides " Kennedy Fraser 13 stone 8 lbs. A powerful runner and determined tackier, he is playing in his eighteenth match for Ireland. Toured New Zealand with the British team in 1950. R. GODFREY (Left Centre) (University College, Dublin)—5 feet 11J inches; 11 stone 7 lbs. Liverpool born and played for Waterloo. ThcmgssenTs Member of a Limerick family, he played for Munster against the All Blacks this season. He is fast and has a deceptive swerve. d>^V est a u ra n i J. T. GASTON (Left Wing) Dublin University—5 feet 8 inches; 11 stone 5 lbs. Had been on the fringe of the team until this season when LUNCHEONS WEDDING RECEPTIONS he was chosen against the All Blacks for Ulster and scored the try in DINNER PARTIES BANQUETS, ETC. the drawn game. He also played against them in Dublin and against France and England. GROUND FLOOR BUFFET GROUND FLOOR BAR AND COCKTAIL LOUNGE OPEN till 10 p.m. S. KELLY (Out Half) (Lansdowne)—5 feet 9 inches; 11 stone 8 lbs. Travels from Wexford each week to play for his club, which he SILVER GRILL joined in 1950-51, and has always played for the First XV. Has scored a lot of points this season and is expected to prove his worth in this match. DONEGALL PLACE J. A. O'MEARA (Scrum Half) (Dolphin)—5 feet 8j inches; 10 Phone: 26414-5 Open till 10 p.m. stone 2 lbs. Toured in the Argentine with the Irish team in 1952 and has played in 16 matches for Ireland. Generally sound, and at his best sends out a long pass. FORWARDS F. E. ANDERSON (Queen's University)—5 feet 11 inches; 14 stone. A sound front row forward and fast and lively in the open. Another of the Argentine tourists of 1952. R ROE (Dublin University)—5 feet 101 inches; 14 stone 11 lbs. &h.e Gilbert Match l^ugby Sails used in When Karl Mullen, the Irish Hooker, retired, Roe took over, and played in the 1951-52 season and all last season's games. Did not play against this Game Were supplied by . • the All Blacks but played against France and England. G. WOOD (Garryowen)—5 feet 9 inches; 14 stone. This young player, aged 21, thick set and sturdy, played extremely well for Munster on the Ravenhill ground early this season and, although he was not chosen against the All Blacks, got his place on the side against England. R. H. THOMPSON (Instonians)—6 feet 1 inch; 15 stone 11 lbs. The most consistent forward in the team, strong scrummager, fast in the open and excellent in the line-out. Was with London-Irish for some S. S. Mecre time while working in London, but has been playing for the Old Boys side of R.B.A.I. since returning. 22 ARTHUR STREET - BELFAST PHONE: 29 19 6 p J LAWLOR (Clontarf)—6 feet 2 inches; 15 stone 2 lbs. First cap was against Scotland in 1951 and went on the Argentine tour in the following year. Played against the All Blacks, France and England this season and is first-class in the line-out. J. S. MCCARTHY (Dolphin)—5 feet 9 inches; 11 stone 11 lbs. Has taken over the captaincy of the team from his great friend, Jack Kyle, .Stocks o/ 5&orf5 ^ooc/s with whom he had a close understanding when playing together. Quick away from the scrum, he is a grand tackier, though rather light. jor R. KAVANAGH (Wanderers)—6 feet; 13 stone 5 lbs. Regarded as one of the best lock forwards playing; he did well in the Internationals last season, but was passed over this season after playing for Ireland ftugby, Soccer, Lau'n Tennis, against the All Blacks. His brother, Paddy, played against England in 1952. CricW, Go//, etc. G. RETDY (Dolphin and Lansdowne)—6 feet; 13 stone 6 lbs. Gained his first cap against Wales at Swansea last season and played against France and Wales this year. Is perhaps more at home as a lock forward, but is a great-hearted player. DON'T MISS THE MATCH OF THE YEAR PeMono/ JMenNon 6y /MOORF, SATURDAY, 6th MARCH, 19G4 /ncernadonof foor6a//er, /nMrnoriono/ UKaKT Po7o^, Olympic Carries .