BANDY ESSEX TIUNT V. PUCKERIDGE HUNT 36 I 



hitherto had been made down wind. The Essex forwards, Misses G. and 

 D. Prance, phiyed up very hard, but were equally hard pressed, Miss 

 Emily Gilbey and Miss Dora Prance coming down a regular cropper, but 

 nothing deterred, they were soon at it again as hard as ever, and Miss 

 Emily Gilbey, playing most brilliantly, hit the third goal for her side. 

 Miss Ida Blyth very nearly scored after a fine run, but was stopped by 

 Miss Dora Prance and her sister Gertrude, who, more like a bird on the 

 wing than a young lady on skates, went through all her opponents, and 

 being backed up by Mrs. W. Sewell, the fourth goal was added to the 

 score. 



Play now became intensely exciting, as, if the Essex could only hold 

 their own for five minutes longer, they would win. With the wind against 

 them we knew that they would have very hard work to do it, especially as 

 the hard and fast play was beginning to tell upon them ; but they pluckily 

 fought it out, and although Miss Emily Gilbey made a great bid to avert 

 defeat, luck was against her, and amidst breathless excitement time was 

 called, leaving the Essex Hunt winners by four goals to three. 



No sooner was their match over than the Hunt teams rushed into the 

 arena, both sides eager for the fray. The Puckeridge were fortunate 

 enough to win the toss, and elected to play down wind, and in less than 

 five minutes scored their first goal. Who made it I cannot say, although 

 goal keeping at the time, for the cork flew past me like a bullet from a gun. 

 Changing ends the Essex soon equalised matters, and then began one of 

 the most stubborn fights I have ever participated in. Men kept falling 

 in all directions in their eagerness to save or score a point, and for twenty 

 minutes the Essex goal-keeper, Mr. W^oodward, had a hottish time of it, 

 as shot after shot was sent at the posts, and for something like thirty-five 

 minutes neither side could score a point, when at last Mr. Gerald Gold, 

 amidst the hearty plaudits of the many onlookers, drove the ball home. 



Two goals to one, and another twenty minutes to play with the wind, 

 the Essex ought to have secured a tie. Mr. Evans made some very good 

 attempts, but was always collared by the backs. I think the Puckeridge 

 put on four backs when playing up wind and dispensed with a goal keeper 

 when they had it behind them. At least three times in the last twenty 

 minutes (the wind had fallen somewhat), Messrs. F. Bailey, G. Gold, and 

 R. Barrow ran the cork right up the ground and had a shot for a goal but 

 failed. How many they would have made had it not been for the almost 

 superhuman exertions of Mr. Walter Bnckumstcr, the ivell-known clashing polo 

 hack, it is hard to say, but crippled as he was, not being able to use his 

 right hand at all, the fastest Puckeridge forward, Mr. Gerald Gold, could 

 never get away from him, and, more than once, shoulder to shoulder and skate 

 to skate, they n'cnt down on the ice locked in a close embrace. 



Mr. Audley Blyth, who was also playing back, saved many a goal. 

 Mr. Burrows, who played as sub for Essex, did yeoman service, and Mr. 

 R. Caldwell was ubiquitous, and played a very good game, but their 

 combined efforts did not prevent the Puckeridge winning by two goals to 

 one. It is worthy of note that not a single point ivas made by either team against 

 the ivind. For the winners, where all played so well, it is difficult to single 

 out any individual player, but apart from the red w.\istcoat one could not 

 fail to notice the brilliant forward play of Mr. Gerald Gold. I never saw 

 a man shuffle across the ice at such a pace or so recklessly. He was most ably 

 backed up by Mr. Barrow, who, combining weight with pace, carried all 

 before him when he got on the swing. The back play on the Puckeridge 

 side was perfect all round, particularly Mr. Tresham Gilbey's. The com- 

 bination of the whole team was excellent, and there could be little doubt 

 that the best side won. 



