Match Report

England defeated Wales in the Rugby League International, played at Pontypridd yesterday before nearly 23,000 people, the receipts being £2,306.

The crowd at Pontypridd were more interested than critical at first, but when the finer points of the game became apparent they became hypercritical.

The Rugby served up in this game was voted brighter than the games here, but though the passing movements were far more frequent than in the club games, they were too orthodox to rouse the crowd.

As a matter of fact the majority of people had come to see local favourites, who had joined professional ranks.

Rosser disappointed his Cardiff and Penarth friends, and Frank Evans had few chances show his worth that his following did not rouse themselves.

J. Jones was off the field for most of the game and Bacon was practically starved, Billy Rees did great deeds at half-back, and the people of West Wales were greatly impressed.

After singliug out local heroes, the Welsh people were hot at all impressed’ by the game because of the great superiority the English team in front. Their forwards heeled out almost every time and to those studying the game for the first time — the Rugby League has not been seen in Wales for fifteen years — it seemed at first very open game.

It killed itself because of its openness, plavers of both sides showing a marked disinclination to down, the attacking becks being allowed great scope.

Professional Rugby has a great future in Wales if better games are given.

Monday’s game was disappointing. At first the record crowd from Taff Vale Park cheered vociferously for what they regarded as a beautifully open game. Then things became much more mechanical and spectators lost good deal of interest.

The feeling in Wales is that the game spoiled many chances of the code developing because of it being so orthodox.

Wales opened the scoring within two minutes of the start through Rosser (Leeds), but this was equalised a minute later by Parr (Barrow). From then to half-time play became exceedingly fast. The short, smart inter-pasaing of the respective teams aroused immense enthusiasm, and at first there was a general consensus of opinion that Rugby League football was superior to that of the Rugby Union.

England at half-time were leading by nineteen points thirteen.

In the second half, the English loam were distinctly better in heeling out from the scrums, but they had the advantage of playing against only twelve men on the Welsh side, Jones (Leeds) haying stand down through injury to his knee.

Towards the close the game Hodder (Wigan) was carried off the field.

Please note that we do not have exact scorer times, so the scoring list below is not in order.