This film is part of Free

St Helens v Swinton (1901)
The crowds at Knowsley Road await a Rugby league match between the Saints and the Lions.
Overview
If there ever was any footage of actual play in St Helens 6-3 victory over the previous season's Challenge Cup winners, it's now sadly lost. But at least these images of the happy home crowd survive. The seemingly ubiquitous twirling hat gesture presumably fell out of fashion as hats became less common - although a lack of headgear doesn't stop the boy in front of the fence from joining in.
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