"To-day's Game."
"Cardiff's most important home match so far is due for decision to-day under very depressing circumstances, and our traditional adversaries from Newport have a chance of turning the tables upon us once more."
* * * * *
"Cardiff's chapter of misfortunes started with the game at Newport on October 4th, for Maile broke his collar-bone there; Turnbull left the following week for Cambridge; Rickard was taken ill and is still far from recovered; Cornish thought that Amber with Black was preferable to Blue with Black, while latterly Johnson has been rendered hors-de-combat and Leon has gone completely off form."
* * * * *
"With all this tale of woe Cardiff arc entering on to-day's contest with the grim determination to recover the laurels lost this last two weeks, and if Turnbull plays, and the forwards reproduce their best form, there will not be much in it. Newport will have their warmest possible team out - the exact fifteen is not known at the moment, but it will approach an International XV, no fewer than seven of the forwards and five of the backs from among those provisionally chosen having gained International caps for England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland."
"It will be a tremendously exciting game, with eyes chiefly centred on the forwards and the centres. Newport have a defeat to avenge - Cardiff have a reputation to regain. Johnson will be sadly missed, but it is hoped that Danny Davies, the acting Captain, is fit. There will be no quaiter asked for or given, but whatever the feeling and the rivalry, we hope for a clean, if vigorous, game, and may the better side win."
* * * * *
"En passant, we have been asked why Melbourne Thomas - the Welsh International now stationed at Llwynypia - has not been invited to play for the Cardiff Committee. Melbourne's presence in the team at this critical juncture would be invaluable, and what about him for the New Zealand match?"
"THE SPHINX."
From "Random Notes."
"By "Angel Terrace" "
"The burning question of the hour, in Welsh Rugger circles is shall it be eight forwards or seven? The majority of people with whom I come in contact favour seven powerful scrummagers and one with the ability to wing or play extra back. You can, they say, always put a forward back into the scrum if you are being worsted, but you can't put a threequarter or half-back into the pack. One London sports writer suggests there is only one back in Wales for the position of rover, providing the Selectors go in for that policy, and that is Arthur Cornish. This writer suggests Wetter and Griffiths as halves. I am inclined to lean to his suggestion of players, providing the Selectors entertain the seven forward business. It is of course absurd to think of either of the Cardiff halves getting into the side. The idea would be too laughable. It would give Tom Webster material for a wonderful cartoon. Much as I value the worth of Jack Wetter, I am never one for hanging on to players who have reached the sere and yellow period, and I think the Welsh Union have too much of a penchant for the old hands."
* * * * * *
"The All Blacks must have been good to win over in Ireland, as weather conditions were all against their natural game. Taking the form of the Irish backs into account, and especially bearing in mind that it was practically the same set of backs that put paid to the Welsh account last year, it will have to be a wonderful set of Welsh players who will inflict defeat on this sterling body of New Zealand Rugbyites."
* * * * *
"It is to be hoped that the Cardiff fifteen are taking their training seriously. Note the ruse of the All Blacks, who, when invited to the dinner prior to the game in Ireland, sent a team of reserves to the dinner. Wisdom is justified of her children.
* * * * *
"Here's to you, Mr. and Mrs. Newport. May we have another of those thrilling, nerve-on-edge games, with good feeling each way."
"L.E.W."