( 2 ) 
packed finely and well, and their lieeling-out; 
was excellent. DurinR the flrst half, at any rate, 
they showed superior form to the Up-country pack, 
and got possession of the ball in the majority of 
the scrimmages. In the home ground the Up- 
country pack were evidently not satisfying the 
demands of their halves, "and frequently the 
spectators heard a stentorian voice loudly de- 
manding the forwards to get ball out. Robert- 
son, Ian Forbes, Dowbiggin and Baird were 
playing a hard game for Up-country and made 
desperate efforts to get the better of the Colombo 
set. Thornton, the leader of the home for- 
wards, ably backed up by hi.s men, among whom 
Tatham, Wickwar and Hall were conspicuous, 
though every man was working his hardest, 
was doing grand work and used his weight with 
telling effort in some dangerous rushes, Up- 
country's claim to have a heavier pack must 
now be abolished ; in spite of the heavy, slippery 
state of the turf, Colombo more than held their 
own in the scrums, and must be credited with 
having made the better display. The loud ap- 
plause of the spectators who crowded the lines 
showed how pleased they were with the Colombo 
forwards. 
THE PLAY OF THE HALVES. 
On a heavy ground, with a greasy ball, diflQ- 
cult to handle, and In a fast forward game 
the work of the halves Is no joke. It requires 
considerable nerve to drop on the ball at the feet 
of eight men and so stop a rush ! The position 
at half-back is no sinecure ; in fact he is the pivot 
of the game, and on no individual player does the 
result of a game so much depend as on the 
half. The veteran player B C N Knight was, of 
course, the most conspicuous half on the field 
yesterday, but neither he nor his companion 
Dakeyne had opportunities of specially dis- 
tinguishing themselves. For one thing, Eooke 
had been well impressed with the idea that 
Knight had to be marked, and he did his work 
well. Skrinfe played a faultless game, his passing 
was neat and his tackling sure, and he put in 
some useful punts which more than once gained 
considerable ground. Eooke played a safe game 
and was first rate in saving some dangerous 
rushes, but on some occasions hung on to the 
ball too long and was thus held before he could 
pass, while at times he attempted to do " too 
much on his own" when a pass out to his three- 
quarters would have been far better, and might 
possibly have led to further scoring, though 
this, in such weather, is merely a " what might 
have been." 
THE THKBE-QUARTBRS ON BOTH SIDES 
had few opportunities, it was no day for them. 
MacTier played a very fine defensive game, 
while Tilly and Lloyd made good use of their 
few chances. One or two fine passing bouts 
were effected, and one in the second half when 
Knight Dakeyne, Tilly, and Brock successively 
handled the ball was particularly fine, taking 
into consideration the state of the ball. Paterson 
played his usual steady game. His manner of 
picking up the ball in the loose and dashing 
through with it is very fine, and on more than 
one occasion he. was dangerously near getting 
over till' line. B.ilkwill on tlie right v.'ing seemed 
very smart in getting in long kicks, but hid 
little chance for sprinting. Larmour had fewer 
opportunites than anyone, and yet succeeded 
In milking hi'nself conspicious several times, 
calling forth applause. Hewitt did some very 
good bits of work, but he did not seem up to his 
usual smart form. Lister and Bell had both plenty 
of work, and frequently cleared in a smart 
neat manner. 
THE SCORING. 
Upcountry's first try was scored just after a 
q narter-of-an hour's play. A combinded rush 
among the Hillmen in w'hich the ball was well 
footed by the pack and then nicely handled by 
the outs brought the ball quickly across the 
ground towards Colombo's right corner. It was 
one of those sudden inspired bits of play which are 
sometimes seen, and to everyone's astonishment 
nearly resulted in a try. But the ball was carried 
into touch, and from a scrum just after, almost 
on the goal-line, Tilly plunged through and scored. 
Colombo's equalising score wap obtained after a 
very pretty bit of determined play, Paterson 
received th^ ball and his dash drew the defence 
towards him, he then threw back to Balkwill who 
received neatly and broke over the line— need- 
less to say amid unbounded enthusiasm among 
Colombo supporters. Upcountry quickly assumed 
the aggressive after the kick-off, and it seemed 
that they travelled like a flash to the Colombo 
ground; Tilly's kick seemed to spectators a little 
distance from the Colombo line to have gone 
beyond the dead-line, and it was a surprise to see 
Just after that Robertson had succeeded in obtain- 
ing a second try. Knight's converting kick was 
an excellent one, and few expected it to be suc- 
cessful with a greasy ball at a diflBcult angle. Con- 
cerning Wickwar's try which was disallowed by 
the referee there seems to have been a difference 
of opinion among spectators and also players, 
and several appeared to be disappointed that the 
try was not allowed. As an impartial critic and 
one who watched it very closely I may say a word, 
and state what appeared to me to be the facts of 
the case. Wickwar charged down the Upcountry 
back, and getting possesion of the ball went over 
the line together with two of the visiting defend- 
ers. The ball was exceedingly slippery, Wickwar 
fell over it to touch down, and though he may 
have successfully touched it on the ground, it 
immediately appeared between his legs and was at 
once dropped on by an Upcountry player and 
saved. To have allowed the try would have laid 
the R'eferee open to severe criticism as favouring 
Colombo in a doubtful point, but I feel sure, that 
in spite of that, Mr. McBean would have awarded 
the try had he thought it was really scored. It 
must also be remembered that in any case of doubt 
the Referee is bound to award in favor of the 
defending side, and no Referee who had any claims 
to impartiality could have done otherwise than 
disallow the fry. I might here say that in Mr. 
McBean Ceylon footballers have an excellent 
Referee, one who uses his whistle wisely and well, 
and I am sure that the visiting team and their 
supporters could not wish for a more impartial, 
fairer, and excellent Referee than the gentleman 
who placed his services at their disposal yesterday, 
Colombo started the game with grand spirit, 
had they been able to keep up the initial pace 
right through the result had been very different. 
Criticism never harms a Sportsman, and a little 
here may not be out of place. Colombo had not 
that energetic dash characteristic of the Hillmen, 
especially just in their ooponents "25" and 
towards the close of the game ; and frequently, 
too frequently, the tackling was too high. Ian 
Forbes's splendid rush right through the thick of 
the fight in front of his own goal was so effective, 
mainly, because his would-be tacklers went for 
him hieh, and were beaten off: one man tackling 
round the knees is more effective than three 
round the neck, when a man can fight on and 
often gain much ground. The Rugger season is 
at an end, and one and all will look forward to next 
year's matches, and may there then be as greafc 
a contest for supremacy between Colombo and U 
country as in 1903, and may the best team win -I 
CROSS BAR. 
