Newspaper Transcripts

The Farnworth Journal & Observer.

Titles and Dates - Surname Home Page

Some Selected Reports from The Farnworth Journal



Saturday, November 25th, 1876.





FOOTBALL. .
BOLTON V. CHORLEY.

A match between these clubs took place, notwithstanding the unpropitious state of the weather, last Saturday, on the ground of the Bolton, at Back-o'th Bank. The Bolton captain having won the toss for choice of ends, elected to play down hill and with the wind in his favour. The kick-off took place about three o'clock, and it soon became evident that the struggle would be a close and exciting one. The honour of scoring the first point fell to Bolton, which was a try obtained by Lomax, assisted very materially by a splendid long punt, kicked by Marsh. The try at goal was entrusted to J. H. Kevan, but owing perhaps to the greasy condition of the ball, or the difficult position in which the ball had to be placed, the try proved a failure; Kevan's attempt, however, was as sorry a one as ever it was our lot to witness. The ball being put into play again, another addition to the Bolton score was gained before half time by Ferguson, who made a good run in, getting through his opponents in grand style, and obtaining the second try for his side. The try at goal was this time attempted by Holden, but with the same result as Kevan's, viz., no goal; but the kick was at any rate a great improvement on that of the latter. Soon after this halftime was called, and on changing ends the hill did not at first seem to be of any benefit to the visitors, but after a time it began to tell, for the ball gradually got nearer and nearer to the goal-line, until a scrummage was formed almost on the goal line itself. Here a desperate struggle now commenced, and the Chorley forwards certainly did more for their side at this point than at any other period of the game, for inch by inch the Boltonians were driven back by sheer strength over their own goal line, and the ball going over with them it was immediately touched down by Lawrence (the Chorley captain), who thus obtained a try and the first score for his side. The try at goal was a complete failure, the ball dropping about 15 yards from the Bolton goal line, and this, making things rather uncomfortable for the home team, induced them to take the opportunity of touching the ball down soon afterwards in self defence. "No sides" being soon afterwards called by the umpire, the match thus terminated in a victory for Bolton by two tries against a try and a touchdown for Chorley. The Bolton team played well, but there is plenty of room for improvement in the forward play, the men not packing so well as we have seen them do. The play behind was only moderate, and we should have preferred to see the places behind the scrummages occupied by the Shaws and Hermon, who would have done a great deal towards helping Bolton to secure a more decisive victory than the one we have recorded. The play of the Chorley team was a marked improvement on their display against a neighbouring club a few weeks ago, but as Chorley had not Stock (who it will be remembered did so much execution for Southport against Liverpool) playing for them on that occasion, and were obliged to play several men who had never played in a match before, the result was not as surprising to us as the result of the return match. will be if success be on the same side. Stock played well on Saturday, making several fine runs, but he could never manage to get vary far, the Bolton forwards keeping a sharp look out for him, and bringing him down time after time. John Lawrence, Todd, and Whittle also played very well for the Chorley team, while for Bolton W. Kevan, Watkins, and Fletcher played best amongst the forwards, and the play of Ferguson, Marsh, and Ormrod was most noticeable for its merit amongst the backs. The teams were composed as follows :- Bolton: Backs, Marsh and Ferguson; three-quarter back, Slater; half-backs, French, Wolfenden, and Ormrod; forwards, Cannon, Fletcher, Glaister, Hopper, Holden, J.H. Kevan, W. Kevan; Lomax, and Watkins. Chorley: Backs, Jas. Lawrence and Todd; three-quarter back, H. Whittle; half-backs John Lawrence and H. Stock: forwards, Lightoller, Fastwood, Spedding, Booth, Anderson, Brindle, John Garstang, James Garstang, Withnell, and Ingham.