Source: http://northirishhorse.com.au/NIH/Brief%20history/Sports.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 21:08:21+00:00

Document:
Like most regiments, the North Irish Horse was active on the sporting field. Reports of some of their matches are below.
NORTH IRISH HORSE v. CLIFTONVILLE.
N.I.H. (ANTRIM) v. BROADWAY RANGERS.
On Saturday afternoon last teams representing the above met at Summerfield's grounds, Ballymena, in a friendly competition. A fair crowd of spectators witnessed the game, which was in charge of Mr. E. Staunton.
Teams:-- N.I.H. – Cathcart; Archibald, Bingan; Coffee, Huston, Perry; Jamison, Dunseith, Gibson, Hunter, and McKee.
Broadway Rangers – Woodcock; Shanks, Boyle; J. Barclay, R. Thompson, McMaster; W. Thompson, Cahoon, Wylie, Bonnar, and Robertson.
BROADWAY RANGERS ... 1 Goal.
24 September 1916. Flesselles. 9.a.m. Football match between the Regt and M.M.G. Battn resulted in 1 goal each (association).
There was a big crowd at Warden Street. Both teams were strongly represented, and rendered a not too bad account of themselves, but at the same time the play was by no means of a high order, although towards the end of the game the contest was more interesting than at any other period of the game. After five minutes' give and take play the homesters attacked in fine style, and from a pass from Torbitt, Moore headed through for the first goal. From this time up to the interval neither team could be counted the superiors, and when they crossed over Summerfeild was still leading by one goal.
About ten minutes after the re-start the N.I.H. applied renewed pressure, and after a good run McCarley scored the equaliser amidst the applause of his spectator comrades. This put new life into the home forwards, who, immediately the kick-off had been taken, made one irresistible run, which terminated in Moore finding the leading goal. A penalty awarded later to the N.I.H., owing to Surgenor fouling one of the military, was entrusted to McCarley, who made no mistake with the kick, leaving Woodcock not the ghost of a chance. Play was lively up to the finish, the score still being two goals each. Teams:--N.I.H.--Love, Archibald, Annesley, Perry, Gillan, Murray, McCarley, Cupples, Smith, Munroe, Robinson. Summerfield--Woodcock, Craig, Surgenor, Thompson, McPherson, Cahoon, Torbitt, Barclay, Moore, Bonnar, Cunning.
NORTH IRISH HORSE v. SUMMERFIELD.
A friendly between the North Irish Horse and Summerfield was played off at Warden Street Grounds last Saturday. A fair crowd was present to witness the game, which turned out a victory for the homesters by the only goal of the match. Mr. Montgomery, the popular secretary of the Summerfield club, was not to be envied on Saturday in his task of getting together a team, which, although not of the first order, succeeded in defeating the visitors.
Play was evenly divided in the first half, and Montgomery brought off several good saves. A notable player for the North Irish Horse was McStey of Belfast Celtic at back, who formerly played for Glasgow Celtic and Ayr United, being at present in training at Antrim. Archibald, at back also, played for Ballymoney against Summerfield in the recent game in connection with the Steel & Son's Cup; while Cupples and Perry are familiarly known in Ballymena. Both sides had notable exchanges, but up to the interval there was no scoring.
In the second half, as far as the play was concerned, it did not favour any side. McDonald scored the only goal from close range, but the visitors were unable to equalise, although they made good attempts. Teams:-- North Irish Horse -- Mairs, Archibald, McStey, Lt. Hunter, Sergt.-Major Carson, Corpl. Jones, Cupples, Perry, Lt. Austin, Shanks, Reilly. Summerfield -- Montgomery, Brown, Taylor, McPherson, Boyle, McDonald, Bonar, Barclay, Torbitt, Marks, McIlwaine. Referee, Mr. M. Killough.
A Squadron football team, Vignacourt, France, 1919.
A card of five events comprised the programme of the point-to-point steeplechases brought off at Oriel Lodge, Antrim, promoted by the Killultagh and Old Rock and Chichester harriers' Hunt Club. In pre-war days this annual fixture was one of the principal features of the northern programme, and always attracted large crowds of sportsmen and of the general public.
... Amongst others who took a prominent part in to-day's proceedings were Viscount Massereene and Ferrard, who acted in the capacity of starter.
... Donors of cups were Sir Thomas Dixon, Captain A. N. V. Hill-Lowe ... the race confined to officers of the North Irish Horse was without doubt the most sporting item on the programme.
... A lot of interest centred in the concluding race, for military riders, each of the eight being owner-ridden. Sloper and Nora Crean were joint favourites and the first-named scored a popular win for Lieutenant W. E. Jones.
4.30 – THE VICTORY CUP – Presented by Capt. A. N. V. Hill-Lowe, for horses ridden by officers of the N.I. Horse during the past season, who are at present [in] service with the regiment. Riders – Officers qualified to enter. About two miles and a half.
Betting 3 to 1 each agst Sloper and Nora Crean, 4 to 1 agst Bronco, and 7 to 1 agst any other.
Won by two lengths, with a length dividing the second and third.
BELFAST v: NORTH IRISH HORSE.
A team representing the North Irish Horse stationed at Antrim are due this afternoon at Ormeau to meet a local fifteen of those Rugby players who have not yet joined Kitchener's new army. The visitors have a fairly good side, and expect to put up a good fight. The locals are far from what a representative Belfast side might be, as the Rugby players have responded largely to their country's call. However, the teams fielding to-day are evenly matched, and spectators should witness a close contest. As is usual the gate proceeds will be devoted to a war fund in connection with the branch, and it is hoped followers of the game will patronise the match in large numbers. The kick-off will take place at 3.15 o'clock, and Mr. W. A. Daish will act as referee.
North Irish Horse -- Full-back, H. Copeland, three-quarters, C. R. Boyd, E. A. Dallas, H. McManus, L. Brennan; half-backs, J. O'Neill, J. H. Alexander; forwards, R. Matchett, H. E. Craig, W. S. Smyth, W. McHugh, S. Mercier, S. McCreary, W. Mercier, and C. Wilson.
Belfast -- F. P. Montgomery; B. C. Hardy, A. R. Wheeler, M. Ireland, Brady; J. E. Rea, C. Wood; J. Hamilton, W. Kennedy, B. McGown, J. McKay (Collegian), J McKay (Queen's), G. Mahoney, F. Ewart, and A. N. Other.
These teams met at Ormeau, Belfast of Saturday, in cold and miserable weather, rain and sleet falling practically throughout the whole afternoon. The Belfast team was a weak one, still they succeeded in winning. Owing to the slippery state of the ball good passing was out of the question, but what little was seen came from the home side. Ireland [sic] scored an unconverted try in the first half, and in the second Hamilton and McKay added tries, McGown goaling the former's effort. The North Irish Horse players put up a good fight, and were many times near scoring, so that the score does not by any means give a fair idea of the play. Result:-- Belfast--1 goal 2 tries (11 points). North Irish Horse--Nil.
BALLYMENA ACADEMY v. NORTH IRISH HORSE.
This match was played on Saturday, at Ballymena, before quite a large crowd of spectators, and resulted for the school team by 1 goal (5 points) to nil. The game was keenly contested throughout. In the first half, the play was fairly even, all attempts on either side to score being nullified by fine tackling on the other. In the secord half the Academy had rather the better of the play, forcing the Horse to touch down more than once. Five minutes from time the soldiers were penalised for off-side, and Watt made a magnificent try at goal from a difficult position. The ball rebounded off the cross-bar and McClelland, the school captain, following up, fielded cleanly and forced his way over for a fine try. Watt made no mistake in adding the major points. Towards the end of the game darkness set in, which rendered it rather difficult to locate the ball. The Academy boys are to be congratulated on defeating the military, as the latter were much the bigger and heavier lot. A feature of the match, which was ably refereed by Mr. McShane, was the good spirit which prevailed right through. We have rarely seen on Ballymena grounds a more gentlemanly set of visitors than the soldiers. Altogether, it was a very fast and exciting game, and the Academy fully deserved their victory, which was in a large measure due to the good play of H. Carson, replacing his brother at half. If the Academy could strengthen their half-back line, they would have a really good team. Surely some of the bigger boys, who so far have cried off playing, will step into the breach before the School Cup ties come round.
NORTH IRISH HORSE v. SCOTTISH COMMAND DEPOT, RANDALSTOWN.
Lieutenants Wright and Forrest (N.I.H.) beat Private B.G. Bonner and Lance-Corporal Russell (S.C.D.) – 11-9 and 6-3.
J.G. Entwistle and J. Malcolm (N.I.H.) beat Withers and Jones (S.C.D.) – 6-1 and 6-0.
Sergeant McKinley and Trooper Smith (N.I.H.) beat McIntosh and Patterson (S.C.D.) – 6-1 and 6-2.
Troopers Loton and Pyke (N.I.H.) beat Ritchie and Johnston (S.C.D.) – 6-0 and 6-3.
Troopers Walton and McDaniel (N.I.H.) lost to Kaye and Young (S.C.D.) – 4-6 and 4-6.
North Irish Horse ... 2 goals.
Ballymena ... ... ... 1 goal.
North Irish Horse ... 3 goals.

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