"FOOTBALL"
"NOTES BY "WELSH ATHLETE" "
"My Newport henchman says:- An enormous holiday crowd turned up to witness the spinners shape against the invincibles; and a thoroughly good game they were rewarded with. In ideal football weather, and with the ground in good condition - straw being laid in one or two hard places - there were all the conditions for a fast and open game, and such the tussle was, with a vengeance. In the opening of the first half the Oldham men were at sea with Newport's fast feeding of the back division and the sharp accurate passing which was brought off - and Graham's brigade did not forget to lay it on thick."
"But with the change of ends the Lancashire lads tumbled to the tactics of the invincibles, and played one of the best games the Newport crowd had seen. Their best three-quarter - and indeed their cleverest player - was Hurst, who, on the wing, romped in with two tries. The forwards were a clever pack and did some clever work in the loose, especially Andrew, but were unable to check the Newport wheel. Of the home rear division Arthur Gould was far and away the best man, doing all his work in good style. For Oldham McCutcheon played in the centre with Gwynn, but neither shone, their chances being few. The Newport place-kicking was about their weakest feature. The straw on the ground was responsible in some measure."
"NEWPORT v. OLDHAM."
"Played at Newport on Boxing Day, in grand weather, and in presence of a holiday crowd of about 12,000. Teams:- Newport: Back, T. England; three-quarter backs, F. H. Dauncey, Arthur Gould, Bert Gould, and F. W. Cooper; half backs, H. Percy Phillips and F. C. Parfitt; forwards, T. C. Graham (captain), J. Hannan, H. Packer, A. W. Boucher, T. Pook, W. Groves, C. J. Thomas, and A. Henshaw. Oldham: Back, Pennington; three-quarter backs, Hirst, Gwynn, McCutcheon, and Whitworth; half backs, Mills and Thomas; forwards, Boardman, Ingham, B. Andrew, Blomley, Murrell, Bonsor, Hamer, and Whittle. Referee, Mr. W. M. Douglas, Cardiff. At three o’clock Gwynn kicked off from the ballast end, and the visitors were soon pressed. From a bit of useful passing along the line of the three-quarters, Bert Gould ran over, but the goal was not kicked. A few minutes after Arthur Gould scored from a grand bout of running and passing between Percy Phillips, Bert Gould, Cooper, and Arthur Gould. England failed to convert from the corner try, but in less than two minutes Boucher had got under way, and, passing to Percy Phillips, the "Sparrow" cleared everything, and ran in with a grand try, which England successfully converted. Oldham was still penned after the restart; but McCutcheon got off from the visitors' 25 with a fine punt and dribble, which was checked by Arthur Gould replying in splendid form. The game was kept beautifully open, and the passing on the part of the Newport three-quarters was brilliant. Andrew dribbled away from the Oldham 25 with excellent effect until Dauncey rushed off and punted back. A hard set-to in the centre resulted in Arthur Gould getting off, passing to Bert, and the latter chucking back to his brother, who ran in between the posts with a try, which England easily goaled. A centre game was again waged, and after a capital dribble on the part of the Oldham forwards, Pennington punted, and, England being upset, Hirst rushed up, took possession, and grounded a good try, which was not converted. After the drop out, Newport was momentarily pressed, but, quickly recovering, the forwards dribbled well, and Charlie Thomas (who played forward for a change)picked up and ran over with a try, which was not goaled."
"Half-time score:-"
"Newport.............2 goals, 3 tries"
"Oldham..............1 try"
"Graham kicked off, and in a few minutes Hirst caught the ball from a pass by Gwynn and ran in with a corner try, which was not converted. With two tries against them in one match, the home forwards put a lot of steam into their play, which was kept up very lively up and down the field. Dauncey was the next to score. Taking a nice pass from Pook, he rushed round behind the posts. Cooper's "place" struck the posts and fell outside. Soon after Bert Gould tried a drop at goal, which went wide. After a round of fast, hot play in the Oldham half, Cooper took possession, and scampered in with a try behind the posts, which again was not converted. Just before the whistle blew Parfitt got off to the line and passed to Percy Phillips, who sailed over in the corner without a goal following, but there was just time for Arthur Gould to romp over with another right behind the posts, which England this time goaled."
"FINAL SCORE."
"Newport.............3 goals, 7 tries, 1 minor"
"Oldham..............2 tries"