Wales and Hampshire are to. be congratulated by rugger men to-day. Northumberland, after getting into} the final for tke first time for 23 years, by beating Warwickshire by.
points to 10, have, had to, yield the County Championship to Hampshire who won by the satisfactory margin of 13 points to six. Hampshire 'Became champions for the first time in 1938 and they managed to get into the semi-final in the following year, only {a be beaten by Gloucestershire the eventual losing finalists. Even more Important than Hampshire's vielory was Wales' hard-fought but, Japparently, well-deserved defeat of Ireland. That gave the unbeaten Welshmen the championstp with five points against Ireland's four, The fact that the winners won by a penalty goal to nll—a goal kicked in the early part of the game is eloquent Jof the closeness of the play. In their three championship matches the 'Welsh fifteen have "had their me Jerossed only once—by H. M. Murray Jof Scotland at Murrayfield—and they have crossed their opponents' lines! three Umes—all in the process of Jdefeating Scotland by 13 points to 3. [Stotisties suggest that rugger form [Home this season has been fairly' ftevel,. The Calcutta Cup match next} [Saturday at Twickenham should pro-ice no less fierce a game than that Cardiff, albeit it is to be hoped kat the 'Twickenham Fire Brigade will not have to quench the specta-Hors' odour. England and Scotland will struggle for the Cup and the wooden spoon. England have a draw, jand a defeat, and Scotland two defeats, on the sheet.
(On the form
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