May 20, 1916
Although there was a goodly crowd at Anfield on Saturday to witness the game between a Welsh international team and a fifteen chosen from Northern regiments, the game and cause – the Roll of Honour Fund – should have attracted more than the 14,000 who attended.
Mr. Walter Rees, secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union, had got together a fine team, and the Military side was sprinkled with internationals. But the most interesting feature of the game was that several crack Northern Union players were included, and keen was the anticipation as to how they would fare in the reversion to the parent game.
They did thoroughly well, for Private Harold Wagstaffe and Driver Johnny Rogers, of the Huddersfield Club, were among the most prominent players on the field, and Lance-Corporal Seddon (Wigan) gave an exposition of back play that was as near perfect as may be expected of man.
Seeling and Johnson, two other Wiganers, were not so much to the fore, the real leaders of the Army pack being L.C. Blencowe, Captain Partridge, and F. Trenham, all Rugby exponents.
On the other side there was better combination among all ranks, the forwards better in the line-outs and the three-quarters superior to their opponents in the passing game. Nevertheless, they did not win, their sole score being a beautiful dropped goal by Clem Lewis, the stand-off half; while for the soldiers Lieut. W.A. Cook got a try which Gronow converted. Early in the first half the Army team lost Lieut. S. Cook and Captain Partridge, but the latter resumed in the second half.
Wales had all the best of the first stages, Griffiths, the pack-half, getting his men going and the forwards showing good work in the loose, led by Watts, Ponsford, and Morgan, and it was only the fine work of Seddon that kept them out at the critical moments. Rees and Trew each had good runs, but curiously enough, the defence on both sides made long runs very rare.
In the second half the Military played much better together. Lieuts. Hill and Davies being prominent with smart runs; but the best run of the day was that of Wagstaffe, which led up to the try.
Wales began to press towards the finish, and some desperate attacks were made on the Army goal, but several good chances were lost by Wales getting offside when almost over the line. The forwards were too keen on getting in front, but Referee Brettargh saw it that they did not profit thereby.
It was a good game, the peculiarity being the fewness of runs of any length, due to the keen tackling and close following up; but the soldiers well deserved to win, playing short-handed almost throughout the game. Result: Military 5 points, Welsh Team 4 points.
(Source: Liverpool Daily Post: May 22, 1916)
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