EBBW VALE FAIL TO QUALIFY FOR SECOND ROUND

Ebbw Vale met Beverley, on Saturday, in the first round of the Northern Union Cup, and the game ended disastrously for the Welshmen, who were beaten by seven points to two, after a well-contested game.

The result was one of the biggest surprises of the day, for although possessing a wonderful score sheet, and an unbeaten record amongst all the best East Riding clubs, only the “Beavenrs’” most optimistic supporters expected that record to remain untarnished after the visit of the Ebbw Vale team.

The game, however, was not altogether looked up on as a foregone conclusion for the South Wales team. From the very start it was evident that the record crowd for East Riding’s capital – nearly 3,000 being present – were to Witness one of the finest cup-tie contests over played in the district.

For the major portion of the game the home men were not the favoured ones of Dame Fortune, for though keeping the Valians in their own territory nearly all first half, the visitors, by the aid of a dropped goal, from the foot of Llewellyn, led at the Interval. Though soundly beaten forward, the Welsh backs were apparently much superior.

This advantage forward was used to the utmost; consequently throughout the second portion of the. game the visitors were scarcely ever out of their own half, and when the final whistle sounded they retired well beaten. There was tremendous excitement when Wood scored a fine try as the result of a forward rush. The same player converted, and he was also responsible for a line drooped goal from mid-field. All this occurred during the last quarter of an hoar, and thus sealed the fate of the visitors.

It was a really splendid game, each side showing glorious football in turn. The handling of both sides of backs would at times have done infinite credit to teams occupying a much more exalted position. Beverley enter the second round for the first time in their career.