HLI Chronicle 1910 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
III
Pte. Lambie; Pte. Hall, Corpl. Baillie, and Pte.
Bowman; L.-Corpl. Cooke, Pte. Simpson, Pte_ Rodgers,
Pte. Young, and Pte. Spencer.
OFFICERS v_ SERGEANTS_
THE writer unfortunately chose the 1st of April for
this annual fixture, and great was the sarcasm hurled
at his head_
Anyhow, the match was a great success, and seemed
to cause much amusement to the onlookers_
The Sergeants had one or two players who knew
the game, but they treated the Officers, who certainly
did not, with considerable kindness, especially the latter
team's centre-forward, who down the hill would undoubtedly
have broken his neck had either of the Sergeants'
backs taken the trouble to upset him.
The Officers' team lasted well, and improved as time
went on. Captain Knight used his weight with great
execution, and bore down on the ball like an ironclad
about to ram. Lieut. Gibson-Craig had great objections
to using his head, and invariably turned his back on
the ball, and then with a mighty jump bounced it on
his shoulder. He was a power of strength towards the
end. After a really even game the score was 3 goals
all. Sergeants Caldwell and M'Culloch undoubtedly
saved the situation for their team. The Officers,
inspired by their success, challenged the Royal Welsh
Fusiliers, of which an account follows.
H.L.I. OFFICERS V. ROYAL WELSH FUSII.IERS
OFFICERS.
Played on the Garrison Field, on 15th April.
We played first against wind and rain. A series of
rushes up and down the ground followed the kick-off,
and Davis and Leckie-Ewing at back defended well.
Our right wing, headed by Pack-Beresford, put in
some short sprints, but without rellult, and finally the
Welsh obtained a corner. The kick was a feeble one,
and crossed our line some ten yards out, and Stuart
kicked out against the wind. A second corner followed,
but our goalkeeper cleared well_
Halswell got possession and made a brilliant dribble
up the ground to within ten yards of gO(l,I, where he
shot a bull's eye into the goalkeeper's chest, who saved
beautifully. From the kick-out the Welsh forwards
rushed the ball right down and scored, while our backs
floundered on the slippery ground. Score-One goal
against us.
Play became fast and furious. Our forwards on
the right wing scored a corner, but the kick was ineffectual.
A rush down the. field wo,s nipped by Davis, and a
minute afterwards Brodie got possession and had a
brilliant dribble right up to goal, but he blundered in
the last 20 yards, and their backs cleared.
Again the Welsh took the ball down the field and
nearly scored, aided by a kick in the wrong direction
by Leckie-Ewing, who had apparently mislaid his
north point. A chance of clearing by the right half
(Gibson-Craig) was frustrated by his over-running
himself and finally landing on his back, but fortunatel!
the ball went, behind.
Halswell, from the kick out, had a second clean run
right up the ground with the same result-a bull's-eye
at six o'clock in the goalkeeper's chest. A rush down
by the Welsh forwards wo,s cleverly stopped by Leckie­
Ewing, who now had taken his proper bearings.
Give-and-take play ensued in midfield, until DalrympIe
took the 'ball from the halfway flag right up to the
goalmouth, ·but put on too much windage and went
wide left. From the kick out a second sprint down
the field followed with Brodie in possession. He passed
to Beresford, who cleverly cleared the right goal-post
with fifty feet elevation! Play t1!en went down the
hill, but Davis, who was playing a great galne, repeatedly
saved and kicked well against the heavy wind. After
another rush up and another bad shot by one of our
forwards, a return dribble by the Welsh was well stopped
by Knight, who at this period looked like a wild
Saracen of old with his hair streaming in the wind.
A corner followed, but nothing came of it. So far play
was all in our favour, but the shooting was, to say the
least of it " tanki8h."
Just before half-time Halswell again got the ball
and put in a great dribble up the field. Profiting by
experience he dodged the goalkeeper with the ball at
his feet and put it into the net.
Half-time, 1 goal all.
On play resuming we at once began to press, and
Anderson, whose hair also by this time was entirely
out of hand, put in a good dribble. Short rushes on
either side followed, but two free kicks in succession
were given against us, because Beresford let his zeal get
the better of him, but fortunately the goalkeeper
was to the fore. A good rush up the ground by the
Welsh was well stopped by Davis, but at the expense
of a severe kick on his knee. Brodie and Beresford
now initiated a series of dribbles, and worked the ball
well down to the Welsh goal, where the latter, with
one of his famous cross-kicks, endeavoured to pass to
Halswell, but was charged down and sent flying on
his back by a smart young subaltern. (Overheard at
this stage :-" Does the fellow know I'm a captain,
and old at that, to treat me like this ")
Play was then taken up the field bJ the Welsh, but
Leckie and Gerard were in the right place and oleared.
Our forwards redoubled their exertions, and everyone
felt that a great effort was required,; and nobly all
responded. .
Knight and Anderson let all " hair" fly! Beresford
cow-kicked; Craig overran himself, but managed to·
remain upright; Leckie faced due north; . Davis
rubbed his knee and swore softly under his breath;
Stuart in goal put on an extra coat; while Dalrymple,
Brodie, Gerard, and Halswell bore down on the
opposing backs. But it was of no avail, and Dalrymple
missed the net by inches.
The Welsh made a final effort to break away, but
Knight, who had been doing yoeman service all through,
bore down on the ball like a cho,rge of heavy cavalry,
and all was well. It was their last effort. Dalrymple
got the ball, passed to Halswell, who scored an easy
goal. Score-2 goals to 1.
By this time, with barely ten minutes to play, it
was a case of "bellows to mend" all round; but
another goal quickly followed a good dribble by Anderson,
who passed to HalsweIl, the latter putting the ball
into the net. Scorc-3 to 1. Shortly after the whistle
sounded. All did their utmost, and play was keen
throughout_ Had the shooting been better the score
would have been doubled. Our best thanks are due to
Lieutenant Ryan, Army Service Corps, who carried
out the duties of referee most ably.
CRIGKET.
H.L.I. v. ROYAL WELSH FUSII.IERS.
Played at Mardyke on the 21st Ma.y, 1910.
We were rather short of practice for this our first
llULtch. The wicket was slow, and Lieut. Fox, who is a
really fine bowler, was very difficult. His record for
the m(l,tch was 14 wickets (13 clean bowled) for 41 runs,