The Alleynian, December 1929
 

Football

Dulwich v. Haileybury.

Played at Haileybury on November 16th, 1929.

Result:—Haileybury 11 pts.  Dulwich 9 pts.

As we were coming off the ground after this match, we overheard one Haileybury master discussing the game with another Haileybury master. The first Haileybury master said to the second Haileybury master: “If it had been a dry day, Dulwich would have won by twenty points.” And, believe us, if ever a Haileybury master spoke a mouthful, this Haileybury master was that Haileybury master.

It had rained all night, and it rained all day until a few minutes before the start, with the result that Terrace field was a morass, and as good a lot of outsides as we have had for years were robbed of sixty per cent. of their value. Of course, it’s all in the game. Fortune of war, and all that sort of thing. We are not grumbling—we are merely mentioning it.

It was not actually raining when Haileybury kicked off up the hill at 2.45, but the ground was in a state which made one wonder how our seven forwards would last out against the opposition eight after half-time. Haileybury rushed the ball to our twenty-five, where Edwards saved. Shortly after this, Frankford relieved with a good run and kick, and we reached half-way. Reynolds and Gray attacked strongly on the left, but the Haileybury forwards worked the ball back until they were stopped by Niblett, who did the first of a long series of fine saves and kicks. There was some spirited play near half-way, and Haileybury rushed again, to be stopped by Niblett once more.

Then we attacked once more and Reynolds and Gray reached the line. Haileybury broke away to the twenty-five line, and then from a scrum Rutter had the ball out to Frankford, who handed on to Reynolds, who got off the mark at a tremendous speed and, racing through, scored a splendid try near the corner-flag. Dulwich 3. Time: 2.55.

Things looked fine at this point, not merely because we were a try ahead, but because we seemed to have the game well in hand. Maggs was hooking nicely, and a lead of nine points at half-time appeared a possibility, especially when Frankford, directly after the restart, came through with a long soccer-hack and, following up, tackled the back on the line. Unfortunately, the Haileybury forwards broke away and were only stopped near our line, where Niblett picked up and found touch on about our 40-line.

Reynolds set us attacking again by cutting through neatly to the back, but the pass went astray and the game returned to half-way. A free kick to Haileybury found touch in our twenty-five, where Davies made another soccer-hack which took us to the Haileybury twenty-five. Haileybury—and every time we say Haileybury we mean their forwards, who played a tremendous game—rushed back to half-way, where Sellick saved. Snelus, on their right wing, punted, and Niblett made a fine catch and kick. Our three-quarters got going and looked dangerous, but were pulled up in their twenty-five. Edwards showed up well in the scrum which followed, but once more their forwards broke away and rushed the ball right up the field. There was a scrum on our line, and the Haileybury scrum-half nipped over. Time: 3.10.

There then occurred what proved to be—from our point of view—the great disaster of the day. A magnificent kick sent the ball over the bar, and Haileybury gained the two points lead which eventually gave them the game. Dulwich 3, Haileybury 5.

Exactly two minutes after the kick-off, we had gone ahead again. Davies made a splendid dribble to the Haileybury line. A scrum was formed. Rutter had the ball out to Reynolds, who passed to Gray, who charged over in the corner and scored a fine try with two Haileybury men hanging on to him. Dulwich 6, Haileybury 5.

In the few minutes that remained before half-time the game was full of thrills. Snelus reached our line, but his cross-kick went over and Niblett touched down. Then Reynolds got away from our twenty-five, and Gray, with a great dribble, took the ball well into Haileybury territory, when the whistle blew.

The Terrace field at Haileybury slopes so much that visiting sides can never feel really happy without at least six points in hand to help them over the thirty minutes uphill, and as at this point the rain started again and the wind grew stronger against us, things did not look at all bright. Frankford kicked off at 3.22, and at 3.26, after we had been rushed back to our line and had had to touch down, loose play took place near our goal, and a Haileybury forward bullocked over between the posts.

The kick, which should have gone over, failed, leaving the score Dulwich 6, Haileybury 8.

Our forwards rallied in great style and a few minutes later Haileybury had to touch down. Haileybury rushed the ball into our twenty-five, where Niblett made a fine save. Edwards worked it back with a dribble to half-way, and then our three-quarters got going with the best movement of the day. Frankford took a pass from Reynolds and handed on to French, coming up inside, who passed back to Frankford, who went over in the corner. This was at 3.34. The score now was Dulwich 9, Haileybury 8.

The game now became desperate. The forwards on both sides played magnificently, with the Haileybury lot just a little the stronger. Niblett made a great save and kick, but soon afterwards we had to touch down. Then our forwards rushed to the Haileybury twenty-five, and immediately afterwards Haileybury were back on our line. Then Sellick put in a tremendous dribble all the way up the field and the battle raged on the Haileybury line. Davies came within a couple of yards of scoring, but we just failed to push the thing through and the game came back to half-way. Haileybury rushed to our twenty-five and one of their centres tried to drop a goal, and we touched down.

Directly after the drop-out, things looked promising once more, for Frankford intercepted a pass and was only stopped in their twenty-five. And then, with less than five minutes to play, our defence cracked for just long enough to give Haileybury the game. A sort of tidal wave of Haileybury forwards poured over our line. There was a moment’s suspense, and then the referee gave it a try. Haileybury 11. Dulwich 9.

The match ended in a terrific whirl of excitement. First, Davies nearly reached their line, then a Haileybury three-quarter intercepted a pass and got to our line, and the ball was somewhere near half-way when the whistle blew for no-side.

For sustained excitement, we have seldom seen a better game. First Dulwich led, then Haileybury led, then Dulwich led, then Haileybury got ahead, then Dulwich took the lead again, and finally, when we only had to hold out another five minutes, they went ahead again. And the match was decided by that first remarkable conversion of a try near the corner flag. It was one of those games which make school football the finest thing to watch that there is. The conditions were against good play, but both sides played magnificently. Niblett covered himself with glory, and stood out conspicuously. Reynolds was a streak of lightning whenever he got the ball.

If it had been a dry day . . . !

P. G. W.

 

Dulwich.—H. G. Niblett; D. A. French, D. H. Frankford, A. S. Davies, S. T. Gray; G. R. M. Reynolds, F. M. Rutter; C. A. Owen; G. E. Hyson, J. Edwards, S. B. Sellick, H. J. Bannan, G. G. Maggs, J. S. Young, D. J. Cowan.

 

 

Printer’s error corrected above:
Magazine, p. 443, had “Gray, with a great drible”; corrected to “dribble”.