Torquay Athletic: … … A few minutes prior to the commencement of the match, a captain not having been previously appointed, Harding was placed in charge of the home team, whilst Thompson captained the forwards. The referee, evidently expecting a warm time, turned out minus his coat. Francis replied to Brooking’s kick off, the sun shining directly into the eyes of the home team, though they did not appear to take particular notice of the circumstance. From the first scrum Pinsent was called upon to defend his charge. Notwithstanding the heat the opening stages of the game were very fast, the home team making things lively that Newton was continually defending. Pictor relieved once by taking Torquay man’s pass, but a few minutes later the same player bungled a pass from Adams, and Williams picking up smartly, was off like a flash, but Pinsent tackled him grandly. In the loose play that followed Newton saved. A lot of desultory play followed. Pinsent stopped an ugly rush, but had the ball knocked out of his hands, and had not Pictor ran back the Athletes might have scored. By good foot-work Newton forwards took the ball into Torquay ground for the first time. Thompson got clean away from a line out, but his pass to Brooking was not taken. Lark endeavour to drop a goal sent the leather against the left upright. Newton saved. Barely had the game been restarted, when Fleet got hold from a scrum, hoodwinked the Newton men, and after feigning to pass, eventually transferred to Symmons, who scored near the corner. Harry’s kick at goal failed. Less than three minutes later, Thompson broke through a scrum a few yards from the line and claimed a second try, no goal following from Lark’s kick. Shortly after, another catastrophe occurred to the Newton team. In loose play not far from the Newton goal line one of the Newton forwards kicked the ball too hard, giving Harding ample time to pick up and drop a neat goal. The visitors woke up after this and did most of the pressing until half-time was called. After the interval the home team still continued to have the best of the game, Willcocks almost scoring in the first few seconds. The home team only scored once this half, and the visitors have themselves to blame for it. From near his own line Pinsent kicked to Harry, but before the latter touched the ball, an impetuous Newton forward took it off-side and a scrum was formed on the spot where Pinsent was standing when he kicked. Two scrums later, Bond rushed over with the third try which Harry did not convert. There was no more scoring, the game ending as follows Torquay Athletic … 1 goal, 3 tries (13 points). Newton Nil, … … Also … … Pinsent has his hands full of work from the first minute till the last and did all he knew to stop the scoring. When Symmons took in the first try Pinsent had to deal with two men, one of whom he stopped. The other two tries were carried in by forwards, both – the tries, not the men – being what is generally termed “soft.” … discussion of defeat …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0897 Devonport: William Henry Pinsent: 1874 – 1949