majority. And here I beg distinctly and emphatically to deny that the Committee owned that their previous decision was wrong. The fact was that the claimants stated their opinion that if the Committee confirmed their former decision, they would necessarily imply that the fellow had gone up to get a substitute. This the Committee denied. No doubt they were guided in arriving at their decision by the spirit of the precedent recorded, but they did not therefore attribute the same motives to the subjects of the respective cases. In short, the Committee interpreted the rule to include this particular instance on the analogy of the precedent recorded. Sorry as I am that the matter should have created such a disturbance, I am still more sorry that it should have been made public, but as I am called upon to deny an imputation (pace Fleur de Lys') cast on Committee, I hasten to do so both "officially and otherwise" for the benefit of "Red Rag" and those who join with him in questioning either the common sense or the integrity of the Committee. As I wish to be as little personal as possible, I refrain from commenting on the general tone of “Fleur de Lys" letter, To the Editor of the Marlburian. DEAR SIR, I observed a letter in your last number stating that the Race Committee had a surplus of money, and proposing that it should be devoted to sustaining the orchestra at Concert. I think this is a mistake, and am not the only one who thinks so. Surely the money ought to be devoted to games. I propose that the Race Committee should pay at least half of the expenses of the pair who go up to Prince's. This would be a great blessing to some fellows who are much inconvenienced by the expense, and I hope that those who are not will not feel insulted and refuse a good offer. Secondly, I propose that a fund should be started for a new Racquet Court, which is sadly wanted. Hoping the Race Committee will consider this. A. Druitt C. H. Hill C. S. Clarke W. M. Richards THE CLIFTON MATCH. This the last match of the season was played on Saturday, Dec. 7th. The frosts of the preceding days had made it doubtful whether the match would have come off but on the morning of Saturday the ground appeared sufficiently soft to allow of a game. The Cliftonians came down under the captaincy of Miller who has now visited us for four seasons, and we were glad to welcome among the visitors, an old Marlburian, G. M. Butterworth. Vassall kicked off for the school from Lyne's, and the ball was well returned by Miller. Peake then caught it and made a good run along the bottom but was pushed out about 10 yards from the goal line. When the ball was thrown in, Vassall, who was playing three-quarters, caught it and running hard up to the top, just got in before he was collared; Clifton, however, alleged that the ball was thrown in crooked, and as the plea was allowed by the umpire, it had to be brought back. Throughout the game there were some difficulties as to throwing in the ball straight, as the wind was high and they demanded it back whenever the ball was at all crooked. When the ball was thrown in, Heaton caught it well but their forwards and half-backs worked with such vigour and skill that the ball reached the middle of the ground. Here Bengough distinguished himself by a good piece of dribbling, and Elder made a short run, but the goal was again relieved by the good kicking of Miller, and their forwards charging up stopped Tracy from getting his drop. The ball had travelled into our half of the ground and but for the good collaring of Vassall our goal would have been in danger, A good run of Peake, who passed it well to Hawkins, relieved us, and then Hamilton brought the ball back by several short runs. Meanwhile the Clifton forwards and half-backs and especially Richardson, their threequarters, were playing very well, and there were several fine pieces of individual play especially in the dribbling line. At last Vassall got the ball at the top, and after a short run and a good dribble brought it over their line, but he lost it ust as he was going to touch it down, and Miller running out with it sent it half across the ground by a huge drop which Tracy well returned. Soon after, Miller got the ball again and after a capital run and a drop brought it close to our line. Vassall again came to the rescue with a powerful run, and when collared passed it to Stanton 2us who was backing up well. The ball remained slightly in their half of the ground till change-when neither side had scored. The game was very fast all through, and while their forwards were most distinguished by individual play, the school showed their strength by playing well together and backing up. After change, we were penned at the bottom chiefly by a run by Butterworth and their half-back. Again, however, Vassall took the ball away and after a long run along the top, went out. When the ball was thrown in Heaton caught it and after a good run dropped it and dribbled for a considerable distance. Miller's unerring drop, however, sent it back to Peake, who made a very long run up and down the ground, and after innumerable dodgings dropped it out. He soon after ran along the top half the length of the ground, but was collared from behind, while attempting to dodge. Duncan then brought the ball down. to the bottom and ran out; when it was thrown in Hamilton got it and ran in, but the Cliftonians demanded it back as not being thrown in straight. The Clifton half-backs now took the ball into the middle of the ground, whence Bowden-Smith made a good dribble and soon after a run. From this point Vassall ran in between the posts, but as the Cliftonians said he was off side, his try was disallowed. After so many reverses our forwards played up very hard, and by some good dribbling of Hodgson, Bowden-Smith, and Stanton 2us the ball was brought within a yard or so of their line from which point Duncan took it over, and secured the only touch-down. The place was well tried by Stanton 2us, but being very low down it failed, owing to the bad state of the ground. at that point. For Clifton Miller and Richardson, and the two half-backs, Ball and Wyllie, behind were most conspicuous; while among the forwards Butterworth, Warren, and Bush played a brilliant game. For the School, Vassall was most prominent behind, well backed up by Peake, Duncan and Hamilton, while Tracy's dropping was very good. Among the forwards Hawkins, the two Stantons, Hodgson' and Elder played very hard. The following composed the two sides: Clifton-J. D. Miller (capt) back; J. A. Bevan, C. Henderson; F. S. Richardson (-backs); E. W. Ball, and F. S. Wyllie (1-backs); G. M. Butterworth, E. P. Warren, J. A. G. Hamilton, J. H. Dunn, J. P. Bush, H. C. Hopton, G. Leonard, H. G. Taylor, M. W. Arnott (forwards). Marlborough College-H. Vassall (capt) and E. Peake (-back), F. Duncan J. D. Hamilton (pro. J. S. Ewart) (-backs), W. M. Tracy (back) (pro.) E. H. M. Davies), H. E. Stanton, F. W. Hodgson, J. W. Stanton, G. G. Hawkins, G. H. Windeler, A. Bowden-Smith, E. Charley, H. M. Elder, E. Heaton (pro. W. H. E. Worship) and C. S. Bengough (pro. J. H. A. Law), forwards. COCK HOUSE MATCH. HORNER'S (Cross Arrows) v. BAKER'S (Fleur-De-Lys). FIRST DAY, Nov. 28th.-This match was begun on the Common in spite of the unpleasant state of ground and weather, as there were not many days left available for house match. Vassall kicked off from the. upper end, and Horner's forwards, following up well, were upon Baker's backs before they could get away Thus the first squash was formed in Baker's quarters and though they had the best of it, it was evident that Horner's would not be run through in the way most people had anticipated. After a run by Duncan and some dribbling by Mahon and Prichard, Baker's had to touch-down within the first five minutes. Cholmondeley kicked out for them and for the rest of the quarter the play was mainly confined by the wind to the road side, which was aukle deep in a creamy mud, with a coating of which all the players were soon besmeared. Under these circumstances dribbling was the best policy, and Vassall and Mahon on one side, Hill and Ellison on the other, seemed to be most at home in this branch of play. After change which took place every quarter, the ball soon came back to the mud pools, though the monotony was relieved by some fine runs by Duncan, who seemed to find the mud no obstacle to his progress. At last Prichard passed the ball well to Vassall, who got well away but was collared by Cholmondeley within a few yards of the goal line, but the only result was a touch-down by Baker's. In the third quarter Vassall and Duncan again and again tried to get away, but the good collaring of Baker's backs and the slippery state of the ball prevented them from getting in, though they made Baker's touch down once more. Early in the last quarter Glennie made a good run, but some good play by Hodgson, Bulley, and Hill took the game. nearer to Horner's line than it had been before, and the good play of their forwards-notably Hawkins and Acton, kept it there some time, but just before 'no game' Vassall got right away again, and Hodg son and Robertson were only just in time to save their side. Thus on the first day neither side scored. SECOND DAY, Dec. 3rd. This time play was on Vassall big game, Horner's having the town end. was not long in getting to work, and with a good run and dribble brought the ball towards Baker's goal, and some fine play was witnessed between Duncan, Prichard, and Mahon, ending in what Jones claimed to be a touch-down at the lower corner. The umpire gave it against him, however, and then followed a series of bullies within a few yards of the goal, out of which the ball at last emerged to be passed back to Vassall, who ran with it in front of goal and then when held tried a drop, but without any success, beyond Baker's being obliged to touch down. When the ball was set a-going again Mahon was within an inch or two of making a touch-down at the top corner, and Vassall shortly after was very nearly doing so at the lower, but Bulley got away with it and made two good runs in quick succession, transferring the play to the middle of the ground. Duncan, however, soon took it back all along the lower side, but was forced out at the last moment; Prichard threw the ball in a long distance and it fell into Vassall's hands, and before he could be reached he was behind their goal posts and had touched down. Glennie made a successful place kick. Encouraged by this, Horner's forwards played up very well, and at times completely carried the squashes, though Baker's on the whole had decidedly the best of it in them. Time to change came very shortly, but made no material alteration in the character of the game, for Vassall made another touch-down at the lower corner, and though at the distance the goal was out of the question, he made a very good try. After kicking out there was soon good play by Hawkins 2us, and Hodgson, who dribbled the ball towards the other end, but could get no further than the middle flag. Later on Jones made a capital dribble for his side, and the day's play ended without further results. LAST DAY, Dec. 5th.-Vassall led off with a very long kick off, which, being well backed up by the forwards, was not returned very far. After some play, mainly confined to the forwards and half-backs, Glennie got the ball and made a good run, when collared abandoning the ball to Vassall, who dribbled it almost to the goal line; but there Cholmondeley (whose play, good as it had been on the previous days, was all through the last hour the most conspicuous feature on his side) made a long kick, which quite changed the scene of action. A series of squashes followed, in which Baker's naturally followed the wisest policy of keeping the ball as near to touch-line and as much in the squash as possible, but Glennie again got the ball, and his run ended by Prichard touching down very smartly near the lower corner. Vassall made a very good try at goal, but without success. Soon after, Hill made a very good run along the lower side, which brought the ball down close to Horner's goal, but it was not for long, as a very fine piece of dribbling by Vassall, well backed up by Prichard, brought the ball back to the other end, and directly after Duncan made perhaps the finest run of the match, right through Baker's players, backs, and forwards, cluding them one after Glennie's another and touching down half-way up. try was not successful. In the remainder of the first half-hour ought to be noticed a good drop at goal by Glennie and another by Vassall, neither of which were straight enough. After changing ends either Baker's forwards made greater efforts or Horner's were becoming rather slack, or from a combination of both reasons the ball came out on Horner's side of ths squash more than before, closely followed as a rule by Hawk ins Chappel, or Smith. Some good dribbling by them made Horner's tonch it down for the only time in the match. But time after time Vassall or Duncan came to the rescue, and once Vassall, after passing all the backs but Cholmondeley, eluded him by taking his drop just as he was on the point of being collared, and following up his kick he raced Bulley for the ball and scored a try. Glennie's place-kick fell just under the bar, where Jones, who followed up well, caught the ball simultaneously with Hodgson, to whom he resigned it in the grovel which ensued. Baker's again worked Horner's back again almost to their goal line, but Vas all again came to the rescue with a long run and a dribble at the end of it,-only this time he fell in the mud. A fine piece of dribbling by Evans followed, and then "no game" was called, leaving Horner's Cock House for 1878, by 1 goal and 4 tries to nil. It is worthy of notice that Horner's have the same captain as they had in 1875, when the same houses played Cock House match with a similar result. Kite is the only other member left of that Cock House twenty, whilst Hodgson is the only one left in Baker's who played against them. The game this year was a very good one and very hardly contested throughout; it was interesting to watch the different tactics adopted by the respective sides. Baker's, of course, kept the ball in the squash as much as possible, and in this they were much aided by their half-backs-Hawkins 2us and Hill, who did their duty admirably. Horner's naturally retaliated by kicking the ball out of the squash as much as possible, and by throwing in as far as possible, even when near their own goal and here again the play of the half-backs-Prichard and Mahonwas very good, for besides their throwing in, they were always ready to pass back in the most unselfish manner when called upon by Vassall, who must be congratulated on his generalship of a team, which by its prompt obedience to his orders proved the control he had over them. The back play of the winners showed the form which might naturally have been expected from previous performances, while the forwards proved that their strength had been underrated by themselves and others. Jones, Evans, and Hardwick were the mainstay of their side, but besides them we would select Robertson, Orger, Daubeny and Thomas, as worthy of special mention. The losers were very strong indeed forward where Hawkins was facile princeps, whilst Heaton, Acton, Ellison and Chappel, were perhaps the most brilliant of the rest. were Soon The ground was exceedingly muddy, but Alston managed to secure two tries before change, off one of which he placed a good goal and off the other made a good try. Horner's play forward was stronger till Adams went back, while Upcott's behind decidedly superior. Alston ran in at the top soon. after change but the place was too high up to kick. Then Dobie ran in twice about ten yards from the goal; Alston turned both the tries into goals. afterwards Bryant, who did most work forward for Upcott's, by a good piece of play got a touch-down which was not kicked. Besides those mentioned above Cox, Foot, and Daltry forward, and Rowe behind, when hegot hold of the ball, were especially noticeable. For Horner's Hoffmann and Hammond forward, Thring and Annesley behind, and Adams in both places, did their best to avert defeat. On the second day Upcott's obtained the required touch-down, thanks to the forward play of Bryant in the first ten minutes. Horner's obtained nothing. Upcott's had beaten Preshute, Thompson's, and Baker's, the last of which gave them much the most trouble. THE "BRIGHT" BELT. The competition for this prize was very keen this year, and the result was superior to that of any year within our memory. The winner, E. C. Cholmondeley, showed what could be done by assiduous practice, by kicking 12 goals out of 15, with a total of 103 out of a possible 120. He kicked with great coolness and judgment, but good as he was, Ewart ran him close with a creditable total of 99. Hitch The The juniors had evidently determined not to be outdone by the seniors, and they turned up in very creditable numbers to compete for this prize. winner Druitt reached a total of 99. Very good for an "under XV" competition, whilst Platt (94), Fenwick (89) and Buckland (86) promise well for future years. N.B. The state of the ground prevents the drop kicks from taking place this term. An attempt was made to kick for the " Bull " cap, but as the frost rendered good kicking out of the question, Mr. Bull has kindly consented to have it over again. The Rifle Corps. THE Monthly Cup, for November, was won by Dalton, at 200 and 500 yards, with the total of 55; 32 at 200 yards, and 23 at 500 yards. Considering that the winner had not had much practice, this was an excellent score, and would promise well for next year, only un happily we shall be quite unexpectedly deprived of his services before that time. In the competition for the December Monthly, on the first two days there was such a fog that it was almost impossible to see the marking discs, far less to aim with accuracy, so that the scores on those days were far from good; nor was the score of the winner, Finch, good, though he shot under more favourable circumstances, as he only made 44, at 200 and 500 yards. The cup should properly have been shot for at 300 and 600 yards, but owing to the state of the weather, this was impossible. C. E. Dupuis-Mr. Parry's, Stoke Poges. L. M. Fox-Mr. Waterfield's, East Sheen. S. G. Williams-Marlborough College. |