"Now, you fellows," he said, coming up to his followers, "we play towards the road; get to your places, and remember what I told you." With young Noaks as centre forward, Hogson and Bernard on his right and left, and other big fellows to complete the line of hostile forwards, the home team seemed to stand no chance against their opponents.
The visitors bowled them over like ninepins, and rushed through their first line of defence as though it never existed.

But Mr.Blake stood firm, and kept his ground like the English squares at Waterloo.
Attack after attack swept down upon him only to break up like waves on a rock, and the ball came flying back with a shout of "Now, then! Get away, Birches!" Twice the Horace House wing men got round Shaw, and put in good shots; but Diggory saved them both, and was seen a moment later calmly rewarding himself with another nut.

Gradually, as the time slipped away and no score was made, the Birchites began to realize that being able to charge wasn't everything, and that their opponents could do more with their shoulders than with their feet, and soon lost control of the ball when bothered by the "halves." The play of the home eleven became bolder--the forwards managed a run or two; and though the Philistines had certainly the upper hand, yet it soon became obvious to them that it was no mere "walk over," and that victory would have to be struggled for.
Noaks and the two inside forwards evidently did not relish this state of things; they had expected an easy win, and began to show their disappointment in the increased roughness of their play.
At length, just before half-time, a thing happened which very nearly caused Mr.Blake's followers to break their promise.
Cross was badly kicked while attempting to take the ball from Hogson, and had to retire from the game.
There were some black looks and a murmur of indignation among the home team, but Mr.Blake hushed it up in a moment.
"I think," he said pleasantly, "that the play is a trifle rough.

Our men," he added, laughing, "are rather under size." Noaks muttered something about not funking; but Mr.Fox said,-- "Yes, just so.

Come, play the game, boys, and think less about charging." The loss of their right half-back was distinctly felt by the Birchites during the commencement of the second half, and Diggory was called upon three times in quick succession to save his charge.