South v North - Lord's 1953

South lost 17 - 4.

Game action — Jack Church (Purley), extreme right, scores for the South. Others in the picture are (left to right, South light shirts): D.Booth, D.Flunder, J.Gray, G.Metcalfe, A.Clayton, J.Griffith, F,McClinton.

South Team, March 1953

Team photo — Back Row: A.Johnson (**Purley**), A.Grant (Lee), J.Gray (Buckhurst Hill), P.Robson (Cambridge Univ.), A.Picton (Beckenham), J.Jemmett (**Purley**), D.Drake (Old Thorntonians)
Front Row: G.Metcalfe (**Purley**), E.Walker (**Purley**), M.Pitt (Cambridge, ex-Purley, Captain), R.Heath (Lee), J.Church (**Purley**).

Below is an article which we believe is from The Times, but we’re not sure.

LACROSSE WIN FOR THE NORTH

LIVELY GAME AT LORD’S

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The North beat the South by 17 goals to four at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Saturday, in a delightful, lively game to be remembered for the South’s spirited opposition. It was the sixtieth match.

Keen, good lacrosse was played, in which the skill, timing, and cleverness of the North attacks were especially entertaining. The South instilled a liveliness into their play that was most refreshing. Their attack held the ball longer than the North, but could not finish. Church and Metcalfe worked hard, but the North defence covered and regrouped efficiently. Kershaw and Gibson were the most elusive North attacks. The South attack could have passed the ball more, and did not use Gray at centre enough.

The third period was the closest and most exciting. The South gained ascendancy in grand style, often piercing the North defence and frequently gaining the loose ball. On defence the South split up several thrusts and cleared well. Gray and Metcalfe added fine goals for the South and Gibbon for the North. In the final period the South fought doggedly, but the tiring defence found Gill a problem, and he scored rapidly.

Clayton and McClinton were towers of strength on the North defence and Griffith was unshakable in goal. Noticeable was tne energetic play of Jemmett and the centre play of Gray, who gained tne ball from most of the faces. The South made one change, bringing in A. Grant (Lee) to replace R. V. Wilson (Purley), who was indisposed. The North’s scorers were:- E. R. Kershaw (5), S. Gill (5), A. Gibson (5), J. Buckland, and D. Flunder. For the South, J. R. Church (2), G. H. Metcalfe, and J. Gray scored.

NORTH.— J. Griffith (Stockport), F. M. McClinton (Old Hulmeians), D. N. Booth (Stockport), A. B. Clayton (South Manchester the Wythenshawe) (captain). E. R. Tweedale (Heaton Mersey), B. Hatton (Cheadle Hulme), D. Flunder (Old Hulmeians), J. Buckland (Old Hulmeians), A. Gibbon (Heaton Mersey), D. H. Bennett (Old Mancunians), S. Gill (Old Hulmeians), and E. R. Kershaw (Offerton).

SOUTH.— E. L. D. Drake (Old Thorntonians), A. Picton (Beckenham). R. B. Heath (Lee). M. J. Pitt (Cambridge U.) (captain). P. N. Robson (Cambridge U.), J. Jemmett (Purley). J. Gray (Buckhurst Hill). W. E. Walker (Purley), A. Johnson (Purley), G. H. Metcalfe (Purley), A. Grant (Lee), and J. R. Church (Purley).

After the game the.England selectors met to select the 1953 England XII. They will not, however, meet The Rest in Manchester on April 11. It is hoped the match will take place during the Coronation festivities. The English Lacrosse Union decided to make the date flexible to help the northern league programme, affected by the hard winter, to be completed.

The England XII will be:-
J. Griffith (Stockport), F. M. McClinton (Old Hulmeians), B. C. Makin (Old Waconians), A. B. Clayton (South Manchester and Wythenshawe) (captain), P. N. Robson (Cambridge U.), B. Hatton (Cheadle Hulme), G. H. Metcalfe (Purley), J. Buckland (Old Hulmeians), A. Gibbon (Heaton Mersey), D. H. Bennett (Old Mancunians), S. Gill (Old Hulmeians), and E. R. Kershaw (Offerton).