Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/113

Rh passing the advantage which would enable him to handle Rupert as he deserved. Unfortunately Joe Herrick was not a stupid boy.

The two teams were pretty evenly matched. The Corinthian guards and tackles were stronger than their opponents, and often broke through and prevented the end runs which the Pythians had been expecting to make with their fleet half-backs, and with Ormsby to assist at right end.

When the first half was two thirds over, and neither team had scored, and the ball was still in the middle of the field, the Pythian supporters on one side, in their orange and black caps, and the Corinthians on the other, in their blue and white caps, seemed trying to win the game with cheers.

Harry Harding and Tom Andrews were having an excited battle. Of the two boys, Andrews had the less nervous temperament. As the game progressed he became gradually more roused to its demands.

Harry had thrown himself with all his strength and violence into it at the outset,