Apr. 8
The English Rugby XV have won the wooden spoon with some emphasis this season. This is a startling change from their position as champions last year, The victory in Paris is one on which the victors are to be heartily congratulated, for it obviously was a ding-dong struggle and. the magnificent Grop-kicking of Bailette proved the deciding factor in a hard fought match. 'The French team can plume themselves on their having defeated England and Ireland, for the latter team was well inthe running for the Championship until Wales, who have been in irresistible' foi this season and should have beaten England, decided the issue in their own favour. As French Rugby Football has been under a cloud, Englishmen will be the more pleased with this result, because it should encourage the French controlling authorities to persevere in their determination "to. keep. their Clubs to the rales of the game.
Although England have failed to win a match this season, they have always been able to pat formidable side in the field, and the French players are entitled, therefore, to rate their victory highly. it shows that the unfortunate disputes have in no way hampered the development of the individual, skill of the French players. Thus avery interesting Rugby season has drawn to an end, The chief feature has, been the revival of 'Wales, who, in the. course of their. four games, were undefeated and scored 75, points to their opponents' 25. The runa-' way Victory which' they scored over France was in some degree Riatched by the crushing defeat Which England sustained at the hands of Scotland in the Galeutta Cup match. The conclusion must be, therefore, that Wales thoroughly. deserve their championship. A tribute should
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.