SCOTLAND v. ENGLAND
AT SHEFFIELD, 10TH MARCH, 1883.
— "Bauldie" | 12/01/1903 —

In a view of the fact that Scotland and England are to meet on April 4, at the cutlery centre, for a second time, I think it appropriate to tell you of the last match which was played there in 1883, and of the noble Scots who "doed" on that famous occasion, when the Scottish arms were crowned with a deserved victory. There are one or two things of prior importance that I wish to tell you concerning this match. It was the first played in broad England's acres outside of London. It was the fourth in the series of five successive record victories in Scotland's favour. In it Scotland played six new men — namely, James MacAulay, of Dumbarton, who thus made his debut for his country in a "furrin" land. The late William M'Kinnon, also a "Son of the Rock," did the same as his clubmate. The same remark applies to scholarly Michael Paton. Then, it was captain Andrew Holm's first and only appearance for Scotland in the classic fixture, and the same comment applied to that erratic genius, known as J. Inglis, of Rangers, one of the Scottish centres. The other centre, Dr John Smith, had the unique, yet not record, of scoring the entire three goals in this Sheffield match, a feat, by the way, equalled at Parkhead, by R. S. M'Coll, in the 1900 'National.

On the English side in the Sheffield encounter, there was a distinct novelty — for the Saxons played at right half-back Sam MacRae, of Notts County, in spite of the fact that he was born at Port-Bannatyne, near Rothesay, and was therefore a Scot by birth, if not by inclination or desire.

We had two brothers playing in this 1883 'National, these being A. W. and H. A. Cursham, of Notts, who thus equalled the feat of the brothers A. M. and P. M. Walters in 1885. The feature in this "cutlery" match was the magnificent combinations created by Eadie Fraser and Willie Anderson, the first-named, like the others I have mentioned, making his first appearance.

Another distinct feature lay in the vast difference of the two teams as to style, England rushing ahead with that fast individualism, whereas the Scots resorted more to combination than ever they had done previously in this fixture, thanks largely to the cultured, influence of the Queen's Park representatives in the team. The weather on this 10th of March was ideal. Tewnty-five excursion trains were run into Sheffield, and a full 10,000 would be present at Bramall Lane as the teams trotted out. The Saxos, as usual, were suggestive of plum pudding and good old roast, for they were stouter, taller, and the stronger team, theri white jerseys and flaunting rose on breast adding to the rotundity of their physiques. The Scots were lither, lighter, and smaller, but Stalwarts Dr John Smith, John M'Pherson, and Michael Paton helped to redeem their Liliputian standard.

England's speed forward troubled the slower Scots, but they made amends for this bu dourly and closely sticking to the greyhounds. After twenty minutes' play, from a place in by Peter Miller, Dr. Smith shot the Scots' first goal. England's speed told in reply, and between Mitchell and goodhart the ball was taken to the Scots' territory, the former equalising the score after thirty minutes play. Inglis had a great run for Scotland, saved by Jones, but only partly, for the valiant Doctor again came on, and gave England her second.

Cobbold, one of the grandest of past Saxon forwards, equalised before half-time, and it was two all when the whistle blew. In the second half the struggle for the mastery was something to be seen and remembered. With greater determination and combination, although with less body, the Gael prevailed, and the ever-indispensible Doctor gave England her last dose, and she and her men were done with at two minutes from time, thus winning the match in the nick, or as they say, on the post. The back play on both sides was magnificent. M'Aulay handling the ball but once in the second half, and Swepstone but three times.

The teams in this memorable match dined at the Wharncliffe Hotel afterwards — the play formed the staple portion of lively conversation round the social board. In the Welsh match on the Monday following, at Wrexham, Walter Arnott made his debut as a cappist for Auld Scotland.

The teams: —

SCOTLAND.

Goal — J. MacAulay (Dumbarton).
Backs — Right, M. Paton (Dumbarton); left, A. H. Holm (captain) (Queen's Park).
Half-backs — Right half, P. Miller (Dumbarton), left half, J, M'Pherson (Vale of Leven).
Forwards — Right wing, E. Fraser (Queen's Park), W. Anderson (Queen's Park); left wing, J. L. Kaye (Queen's Park), W. M'Kinnon (Dumbarton)
Centres — Dr Smith (Edinburgh University), J. Inglis (Rangers).

ENGLAND.

Goal — H. A. Swepstone (Pilgrims).
Backs — Right, A. Jones (Great Lever); left, J. J. de Paravicini (Old Etonians).
Half-backs — Right half, S. MacRae (Notts County); left half, N. C. Bailey (captain) (Clapham Rovers).
Forwards — Right wing, A. W. Cursham (Notts County), O. Whateley (Aston Villa); left wing, H. A. Cursham (Notts County), W. N. Cobbold (Old Carthusians).
Centres — C. Mitchell (Upton Park), H. C. Goodhart (Old Etonians).

Umpires — Messrs T. Laurie (Scotland), and J. Clegg (England).

Referee — J. Sinclar, Ireland.