ill Cumming, repeatedly got past me, despite the smart manoeuvring of
my master. Will, however, was somewhat wild in his dribbling, and could
not keep the ball close enough to his toes. Jim Wild was my master's
backer up on the occasion, and as Jim was decidedly the finest dribbler
that ever toed a ball, and kept his place for ten years against all
comers, afterwards the pair managed to intercept Cumming before he got
close enough on goal to make a shot. The Crowers' goalkeeper was a good
one, and could clear his place of defence with great ability, but the
backs were not of much account. Pate M'Wherry and Luke M'Tavish did the
work at half-back, but their kicking was somewhat feeble when compared
with those of the Conquerors, Tom James and Willie Keith. The Conquerors
were far too anxious to score, and for some time kept up a close
cannonade at their opponents' goal without effect. Bob Prentice used his
hands cleverly, and, though the goal was again and again endangered, not
one of the forwards on my master's side could get the ball under the
tape. A fine run was made by Wild, Lucky, Grind, Short, and my master,
and the ball brought up to within a few feet of the Crowers' goal, but
at the last second, Johnny Forrester, one of their centre forwards,
kicked it behind. This gave the Conquerors the corner flag-kick. My
master, who was quite an adept at corner flag-kicks, was sent to the
spot, and placed the ball in a good position, but Bob Prentice got it up
in his hands at a critical moment, and threw it clear. Good runs were
eventually made on both sides, and once the Crowers nearly lowered our
colours, but nothing was got by either, and the game was drawn. In those
days the rules observed were somewhat different from those in vogue now.
The game was far prettier. There was none of that heading which forms
such important factors in the style of modern playing. When the ball was
thrown in from the touch-line the rule insisted that it had first to
land on the ground before being touched, and consequently head play was
unnecessary, and dribbling was, as a matter of course, considered the
most important point, combined with taking smart possession of the ball
as soon as it touched the ground after being thrown in. My master was
smart at getting on the leather, and, next to Jim Wild, he was the most
accomplished dribbler in the Conquerors. If there is anyone capable of
telling what he could do, 'tis I. How he used to keep my toe