HLI Chronicle 1910 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONlULE.
29
right wing, and in the scrummage that ensued in
front of goal Lawrie scored with an easy shot. The
Cork team. with a two-goal lead, were now inclined
to take matters rather easily, and the forwards and
halves indulged in pot shots from outside the" 25."
The Highlanders never >eemed to be able to get into
their stride. Hill, on the right wing was the only
player to put any effective sting into his play, and
this despite the attent,ion~ of Lambie. who was very
sound. A mistake by Caldwell saw his galtl in
jeopal'dy, but Lees saved well, and the H.L.I. reo.
turned to the attack. Bl'istow and Lowrie seemed to
have an excellent, understanding, and the lattpr was
frp.quently applauded for clevel' footwork and brilliant
opening.. He gave Bristow a chance nearing the
interval, but the latter sent high. The visitors also
had one or two chances, but their work in front of
goal was decidedly weak. Bone tried Lees with a
difficult shot from the left wing, but the latter
made a capital clearance, and immediately afterwards
Graham had to fist ont a high shot that Buchanan
sent in from the right wing. An exciting bit of
play now followed. Bone got possession, and burst
along the left touch line. When challenged by Caldwell
he bangpd right across the field to Hill on the
other wing. The latter brought it up to the goal
mouth, and although ourrounded by a couple of
backs he scored from a difficult angle with a leftfooted
shot. 'More interest was now centred in the
play, but in a twinkling the H.L.I. again improved
their position. Galloway conceded a corner, a.nd the
kick was cleverly headed through by M'Donald.
The home lot continued to attack, and when the
interval arrived the score was-H.L.I., 3 goals;
Black Watcll, 1 goal.
Immediately on resuming Bristow, Lowrie, and
M'Donald were away. and the last-named tried
Graham with a shot from the win", but the goalkeeper
kicked clear. Soon after Wilson had a fiue
opportunity, but he sent very wide. A mistake by
M'Gowan gave Bristow a grand chance, but he hesitated.
and was robbed of possession_ A pretty bit of
combination on the H.L.I. right wing saw the ball
go across the field to Lowrie, who flashed in, and
taking the ball right oH' ScoWs toes, sent in a lightning
shot to Graham, who saved. Play was of a
more even nature now, and both citadels were
in turn attacked, and exciting clearances effected.
The hOllle side were attackinl{ when a " free" was
given as!'ainst them for "hands" within the penalty
area. The shot wa" entrusted to Lowrie, who had no
difficulty in finding the net. On re-starting, a very
pretty bit of short inter-passing was seen between
Buchanan, Minnie, and Bristow, but Scott came
around in the nick of time and saved. The visitors
were now a beaten side, and when simple chances
offered themselves they were not able to avail of them.
When Caldwell fell and there was only Lees to beat,
Gueso sent in a very weak and wide shot. The game
became very tame, as one side were beaten and
the other side palpably were not trying. Nearing
the close Lambie and Caldwell began to trifle with
the opposition, and Wilson .-lipped in betwpen them,
and had no difficulty in sending the leather past Lees.
'[his slight reverse 'put the Cork side more or less on
their mettle, and the remaining passages were all in
their favour. .Final score-H.L.I., 4 goals; Black
'Watch, 2 goals.
Considering the adverse conditions under which the
. game was played-the state of the sod being calculated
to ruin any match - it was a highly interesting
display. The home side were superior in every
department, and were on all points the better side
The Black Watch not once through the game
exhibited anything like the finish or combination of
their opponents. The work of the latters' front rank
was pretty to watch, and mo~t effective. Lowrie
was a bundle of tricks, and made many openings for
his wing man, M'Donald, and his celltre, Bristow.
Lambie and Caldwell were both very sound, but they
were well served by the intermediate line, who also
kept their forwards going. Scott, on the Black Watch
side, was ubiquitous, and saved repeatedly. The
wings were the smartest members of the forward
rank, but the line was never seen to much advantage,
!lS too much individualism was existent. The halves
were the best members of the side, both backs being
somewhat erratic. Lees and Graham in goal were
-excellent.
Mr. Thomas' refereeing was excellent. His
decisions were prompt and always satisfactory. He
will again hold the whistlp. at Limerick next Saturday,
when the same teams meet in the All-Army Cup.­
Cork Constitution, Dec. 13, 1909.
RESERVE TEAM NOTES.
As there are a number of competitions open to
Reserve teams stationed in the south of Ireland, the
Battalion has got together a very good eleven. which
at the close of the season should have something to
show for their work. We engaged in a friendly match
on Monday, 29th September, our opponents being tbe
Reserves of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, last year's
champions. The game "as watched by a good turnout
of the military, anxious to >ee what we were
made of, as to them we were strangers, so far as football
was concerned. There was a marked difference
between the styles of the teams, ours ,Playing the
slow passing game, whilsL the .Fusiliers game compared
favourably. As an eleven we proved their
superiors, and ran out winners of !I' good game by 8
goals to one. Further cbmment IS needles8, as all
our team made a good show for a first appearance,
and, with a couple of'games, should irllprove.
"'-e were drawn to play against the same Reserve
team in t.he first match of the Intermediate Cup, and
we were very keen on winning, os the competition is
quite a good one, and our opponents were the present
holders. The ~ame was played on Thursday, 7th of
October. Havmg won the lOSS, we elected to take
the assistance of a high wind. We started in very
promising fashion, our forwards continually hovering
round the Welsh goal, and causing their defence no
little anxiety; but goals were slow in coming. After
half-an-honr's play we were successful in getting the
first goal of the game--Minney giving the final touch_
Other two goals were scored by Robertson and Minney,
and we crossed over with a comfortable lead.
In the second half our opponents attacked strongly;
but our defence never wavered. Our team seemed to
play as well against as with the wind, and indeed'
our forwards took the game in hand for some time,
and fairly troubled the "'elsh keeper. Ju.t when
everybody thought th,~ game was finished the
referee awarded a penalty for one of our half-backs
handling; from this the Welsh got their only goal,
leaving us winners by 3 goals to 1.
Team :-Rae, Caldwell, Duncan. Southworth, Neil,
Smith, Buchanan, Minney, Tait, Spencer, and
Robertson.
INTERMEDIATE CUP.
22ND BATTERY R.F.A. V. 2ND H.L.1. (RESERVES).
Having lost the spin of the coin, the H.L.I. set the
ball rolling, ..nd their forwards took the game in