Several of the matches were interesting; notably that between Guthrie and Pruen. During the second half of the game the struggle was close, Guthrie generally keeping a point ahead, though losing many chances by a too steadfast adherence to the dropping game; at game ball they were even for several rounds until Pruen, who had played a good up-hill game throughout, finally scored the required point. Evans lost his game foolishly; Preston reached game ball, but at no time seemed to tax his opponent's powers very severely. Corbett and Robinson made good games of their matches.

Pruen again won a hard match, which was expected to be even harder than it proved itself. Graham and Bullock also won their respective matches by one point only after really exciting games.

Racquets, for some reason or other, is not nearly so popular as Fives; we rather imagine the reason is the greater amount of apparatus and practice required. Still it is a game which is, or ought to be, practicable during wet weather. If the Public Schools' matches are played next year at Prince's there will be a vacancy to be filled up, and there is no reason why almost any one with four months' practice before him should not be able to secure it; he has only need of a little perseverance and a little ambition.

There were 31 entries for the matches. The first round was thoroughly uninteresting.

The second round was also uneventful, the talent rising to the

top slowly. The matches were—

C. M. Kennedy (10 and 2 hands) odd man.

Wyatt was beaten easily, contrary to the expectations of many; his lameness may well be his excuse; at any rate G. Hare played well and deserved to win.

The championship of the Modern was decided by one match, in which G. Wyatt easily defeated C. Montresor. Myers, who was last year's champion of the Classical, remains unchallenged.

Football.

By the time this is published, the great events of the football year will in all probability be decided. The issue of the Classical and Modern is hardly doubtful, for the latter are far away the stronger, and have an indisputable tail.' But the sides are evenly enough matched to warrant the anticipation of a good game. The Challenge Cup ties between Boyce's, the present holders, and the A Day-boys. It is impossible to predict the winner. Great excitement and speculation prevails, and each party has its backers.

With regard to the football of the past month, there are some notable circumstances. Green and Red have had their 1868

struggle, and Red has proved victorious, for the first time since 1865. The Grasshoppers must console themselves by the remembrance of past, and hopes of future, successes. Their defeat was as unexampled as it was unexpected: its severity may be ascribed to the wind, to ill-luck, or to the 'glorious uncertainty' of football. The Fireflys are to be congratulated on having reversed the order of preceding years.

It is a sad, but nevertheless indisputably true fact, that there is to be no 'Trainer' match this season, owing to the refusal of the Trainers, who have written to the effect that as their 'Vacation is earlier than usual this year, a match cannot be arranged this side Christmas.' This is lamentable. Hitherto, the Trainer match has formed a distinctive feature of our football. Let us hope for better luck next year.

The weather has been, on an average, unfavourable. Rain has fallen in abundance; to such an extent, that on several halfholidays there has been no game. Proposals for a match were received from the 'Wiltshire Wanderers,' but it was found necessary to decline them. Unless the Town musters for a return, the College Twenty will have played only one foreign match previous to the Past and Present. The matches to be chronicled are—

TWENTY v. FIFTY.

Played on Saturday, Oct. 31st., and resulted, after a very hard fight, in favour of the Twenty. At the beginning of the game the ball was kept fairly in the middle of the ground, fortune inclining sometimes to one side sometimes to the other, but no point was raised until a goal was kicked by Watts, for the Few, off a place well got by Baines. Soon after the Fifty, in their turn, began to pen their antagonists who rather felt the odds of nearly three to one, and Peel, playing well on the ball, touched it down for his side. But the place was not doomed to come off, for some other man, burning to distinguish himself, laid sacrilegious fingers upon the ball, in defiance of the existing rule; it therefore only scored a rouge.

[As it had frequently happened, up to this time, that two or more players have touched the ball down, which is contrary to law, and which has sometimes made a material difference in the ultimate issue of the game, the rule has been altered, and it now stands that any number can touch the ball, without spoiling the consequent place.]

At this point of the match Neave made his mark in front of the Twenty's goal, and took a successful drop with commendable coolness, thus leaving his side one point ahead. But the Twenty,

mettling up, got the one point required to make them even again, following up their advantage, got three ties at goal in rapid succession, through the exertions of Perrott and Mellor, which were all missed; but a fourth was crowned with success by a good kick of Strachan's. Here, then, the Twenty were a goal and nine points ahead.

The sides changed over, and the Many having the wind, made it rather hot work for their opponents, who found it hard to keep the ball out of their own goal. A protracted and severe contest took place for last point. Eventually the Twenty were forced back by the superior weight and numbers of the Fifty, for whom Torrens scored a touch down. Here again it was a moot point as to whether the ball had not also been touched by another player, but the claim was allowed; and when the ball was placed, Meire kicked what the Umpire stated he wouldn't like to swear wasn't a goal.' It may have been a poster. Deponent sayeth not, but at any rate the Twenty came off victorious. All played well, but we would specially commemorate the play of Bryden, Lowther, Harrison, and the two Perrotts (forward), and of Watts and Strachan (back). For of Told the following were the most prominent: Armstrong, Ellershaw, Moore, Munro, St. George, and Torrens (forward). The back play was fair enough, and calls for no comment.

DISSYLLABLES v. REST.

Played on a wet and disagreeable Saturday afternoon. The weight of the Dissyllables asserted itself, and they won easily. For them, Stewart placed a good goal, and Mr. Tyers (O.C.), made a plucky try. The other side, with the exception of Messrs. E. A. Brice and F. R. Price (O.C.), did nothing particular. Lowther, Bryden, St. George, and others distinguished themselves forward.

DAY-BOYS AND SMYTH'S v. REST.

This proved a tolerably easy victory for the Allies, which caused various speculations as to the probable issue of the Challenge Cup matches. Smyth's furnished nearly all the up play, the Dayboys nearly all the back. More than one try at goal was got by the victors, but the places did not come off. At last H. Brice popped one over goal very neatly, and the sides changed over. Nothing further of note occurred. The forward play of the Smythites was particularly good, and the long kicking of Day was much admired.

Played in a hurricane, the advantage of which chiefly fell to the Reds, though they did manage to kick a goal against it. This

GRASSHOPPERS v. FIREFLYS,

is indisputably the worst Red and Green match there has ever been: the weather was simply foul, and suggested anything but football. The spectators were few, and to the last degree apathetic. The Fireflys played well together, and certainly deserved their victory, which was a fairly easy one. They got a start of several points, and increased their lead to the end, when they won by more than two goals. The goals in question were both placed by Lawrence; the first, a magnificent kick from the bottom ropes, off a touch down, well got by a good run in of Mr. R. E. Grey's (O.C.); the second, against the wind, off a try at goal, secured by Moore. The Grasshoppers, though favoured by the wind for some little time, could get nothing more than rouges; however, they played up gamely to the end, and battled for the last point, which was nevertheless wrested from them by their opponents. In the Grasshopper and Firefly match everyone of course does his best; and it would be invidious to particularise. The Reds were assisted by Mr. R. E. Grey, the Greens by Mr. E. A. Brice.

WINGS v. BIG ROOMS.

This match was played on Saturday, Nov. 28th, and as all the interest was absorded by the Smyth's and A Day-boys' Cup match, was a comparatively tame affair. Only about a dozen a-side could be mustered. We believe the Wings won. The only notable event was a goal kicked by a place of Mr. F. R. Price's, from a tremendously long distance.

CHALLENGE CUP MATCHES.

First Draw.

Boyce's v. B Day-boy's.

Price's v. Green's.

Brook-Smith's v. A Day-boys. | Bayly's v. Small Houses.

Smyth's Odd House.

The first of these matches was won by Boyce's, partly through the seeming ubiquity of Strachan, partly through the spirit of perfect unanimity which pervaded the whole twenty. Steuart, H. Brice, and Mansfield worked wonders for the losers, but in vain, though the former kicked a goal well. The victors scored several tries,

which were, however, all missed.

Price's beat Green's. For the former Brown played well; for the latter, Guthrie, Graham, and Robinson. Bayly's did likewise to the Small Houses; the champions on each side being Harrison and Preston.

The best match was A Day-boys v. Brook-Smith's, although the latter were beaten by some three goals. The 'Ouse played