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MATCH REPORT : ST. HELENS V LIVERPOOL ROYAL INFIRMARY 24 JANUARY 1874 The announcement of this match, the first ever to be played in the town of St. Helens attracted a large crowd of spectators who evinced a heart appreciation of the peculiarly characteristic features of the game, their enthusiasm being but slightly damped by a smart shower of rain. The ball was kicked off at 3.30 p.m. by the home team.; the strangers, who were several men short, winning the toss selected the upper goal, and so secured the advantage of playing with the wind. Thus aided, the capital play of their forwards enabled them to keep the ball in rather close proximity to their opponent’s goal. Liverpool Royal Infirmary had the advantage of four touch-downs by half time. On ends being changed the aspect of affairs was for a time entirely altered, the ball being carried down into the heart of the “Royals” territory. This however did not last long, the superior training and backing up of the Liverpool team gaining ground for them in all the scrummages, the excellence of their forward play going far to neutralise the disparity of numbers, as they were able to dispense with all their back players but one, whilst St. Helen’s had no less than seven. On “no side” being called the Liverpool men had added another touch-down to their score a very pleasant game terminating in a draw in their favour. |
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