HLI Chronicle 1910 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

12 HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
issue out of doubt they "ere wild in front of goal and
lost many opportunities. At last, with the end drawing
near, success crowned the Scotsmen's efforts,
M'Menemy scoring one of the finest, goals seen in
Simla for many a day, leaving the goalkeeper helpless
with a drop shot from a pass by Kennedy. :From
now to the finish the Highlanders preRsed, and time
was called with the score unaltered-H.L.I., I; West
Ridings, nil.
(Second Ronnd.)
After disposing of the Ridings, we had a hard task
in meeting the Laucashire Fusiliers, the present
holders of the Cup. The Fusiliers had beaten the
Royal Scots by 3 10(01118 to 2 In the fir,t round, and
were favourites for the Cup. On Monday the 20th
September we turned out in a glaring 8U/l, at 3-30,
before a large assembly of ladies and gentlemen.
Sergt. Lawrie won the toss and chose to kick uphill.
The Lane.. set the "ame going amid tremendous
excitement., and for the first five minutes give·andtake
play ensued, until the Highlanders took the
game in nand and kept the enemy on tenter-hooks,
the forwards harassiug the Fusiliers' backs to some
tune. The pressure was maintained for about ten
. minutes before the Lancashire lads cleared their line,
and a nice combined move t()ok them down the field
towards Cassidy; the centre·forward dribbled the
backs, but found an obstacle in Cassidy, who WIIS
very safe, throwing himself at the forward's foot
regardless of injury when he was !!oing to shoot at
about five yards range. The Io(ame !'ontinued on eVf\n
lines after this, and showed good football on both
sides, whieh was keenly appreciated. Nearing halftime
the I,anc.'s goal had It fortunate esca.pe from a
mistake on the referee's part (blowing his whistle
after Scivity had thrown a ball in from touch alld
then shouting for play to proceed. The ball in the
meantime had been sent across the field by Marshall
to M'M..nemy who dashed past the backs and had
the goal at his mercy, when he stopped, thinkiug the
whistle had gone for some infringement; finding "uch
wa" not the case, he shot at once, but the goalkeeper
brought off a fine save. M'Menemy no doubt would
have made more certain of his parting effort if the
above·mentioned incident had not occurred. Lawrie
received the ball from the goalkeeper'. save, and a
corner resulted; nothing, however, came of it, as the
Lancs. punted the ball down thefield, which was well
returned by Renton, who WIlS playing a fine game at
left back. Half-time was called With the Highlanders
pressing, and the Lancs. lucky to cross ov~r on level
terms. ~I'Menemy set the ball a-rollinli with a PlUlS
to Lawrie (who had gone in$ide-right, WIth Kennedy
outside-right). \Vith the incline in their favour the
prospects of the Highlanders were extremely rusy,
but, to the general surprise of all, the Cup-holders
were first to score, dter having decidedly the "orst
of the exchanges. Lawrie was robbed of the ball by
the inside-left, who ran up his wil)g and crossed the
ball with splendid judgment to the inside-right, who
with a ma~nificent shot found the net out of Cassidy's
reach, anud great Ilnd enthusia~tic cheers from the
crowd, who were very fair and applauded all good
play on both side>. Th.. Highhmders did not take
this reverse lying down, but now produced the
brightest incident in the tie. M'Menemy with a pass
to Marshall kicked off, and the entire H.L.L forward
line had a hand in the combination which followed.
Storrie received from :Marshall and transferred the
ba.ll across to Lawrie, who sent on to Kennedy.
The latter shot acro.s from the extreme right into the
goal-mouth; the g()al-keeper, catching the ball. was
poune~d upon by Marshall, who compelled him to
drop it. M'Menemy shot the ball iuto the empty net
and equalised the score amid a tremendous outburst
of applause Up till 110W it was a fine and excit,ing
game, and as time wore on the spectators were taking
out watches and talking of a draw and exp"'ctations of
extra time-Cassidy had to run and save his charge;
in doing so he fell, and one of the Lancs. Hent the ball
in the !Iirection of the net, and Mevity was penalised
for striking the ball with his hand; lrom the resultant
pmalty Cassidy was once more in the picture by
some more good saving-first the kick then the rebound-and
got a well merited reception for his
work Play was flUltand furiuus, and the tie was any.
one's until the Lancs. were granted a corner. From
the kick, O'Rourke, in endeavouring to clear his
lines, foozled the ball, which left the opposing centre·
forward ill po>sesson, and he coolly planted the ball
past Cassidy, giving the Lancs. the lead with ten
minutes to go. Misfortunes never come singly, and
after a desperate stl'Uggle to get on equal terms the·
Scotsmen were repulsed, and the Fusiliers, outside
right sped towards the corner flag and squarer!
the ball high across t.he field. Gorman ran to meet
the ball and misjudged it, allowing it to drop at the
centre· forward's feet, who made nn mistake and
registered No. 3, giving no chance to save. The game
was now lost and WOIl, and time was called soon
after with the Highlanders beaten by 3 goals to I,
after having an equal share of a splendid fight. Our
victors are a grand team. and justified expectation by
once more winning the C"p. Had we not, met them
so early in the draw we should have gone well up·
in the Tournament..
RUGBY NOTES.
COMPA~Y LEAGUE.
The Company League, which has just finished, has·
heen won by I Companj, who won 9 out of 10·
matches, the other one being drawn. Among thecompanies
who have just picked up the game D
Company show most progress. They did remarkably
well in the League, finishing second, and they had
also the honour of being the only company to take a
point from the winners. On the whole the I.eague·
has been a success, and some good games were seen ;.
and by next year we will have some very useful
players.
A copy of the IJeagne table is given below :-
Matchee. Points.
...-- ,,.---"-­
Teams.
Pld. Won. Drn. Lost. For. Agst.' Pt....
I Company, 10 9 I 0 7I 7 19
D Company, ]0 7 1 2 32 12 15
K Company, 10 6 I 3 51 18 13·
B Company, ... 10 3 0 7 30 57 6·
G/H Company, .. 10 2 0 8 13 45 4
A Company, 10 1 1 8 3 51 ~
CALCUTTA RUGBY CUP.
I now come to our attem[>t-a rather poor one-to
possess onrselves of that coveted trophy the Calcutta
RUj::by Cup. We left Lucknow on 4th September,
arrIving in Calcutta the following day.
On Monday Ihe 6th we played a friendly with the
Shropshires, who had won the .Junior League; a.
fairly interesting game, from which we emerged
winners by a try to nil. Biggar, one of the halves,
scored by a good individual run.
Our team was :-Palmer; Turner, Clayton, .Lieu~_
Anderson, Clarke; Reid and Biggar; Henderson,.