SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

COLLEGE V. NELSON. On Saturday afternoon was hotly contested one of the finest. Cup matohes this season, that between those inveterate yet evor mutually amicable rivals, the College and Nelson Clubs. The game throughout was fast and loose, the backs having numerous opportunities of showing their pedal celerity and manual dexterity. The Collegians showed their superiority in every point of the game. Eaoh time the ball got into a batch of players the College forwards wonld " pack " in like a wedge, " shove " together, while their bulkier opponents would be pushing severally, and not as one man, in a variety of directions. The passing of the backs was also very good, though it was not without its faults, | The Nelson backs are improving, but ! they have not yet the requisite combinaI tion— the great defect of the whole team, j They occasionally got off some good pass- | ing, but it is not unselfish, and they do not ail pass quickly enough. Much good play was shown on both sides, and the game, being open, was j highly interesting to watch. The spectator saw more of the real science of the game, namely, the work among the backs. The laurels of the day were universally accorded to young Riley for his brilliant feats. This lad, though diminutive in stature, has the pluok and skill o! a far larger and more experienced player, and he, as full-back, repeatedly tackled men twice his size and strength. Thrice did he save an otherwise certain score by the Town, and consequent defeat of his Col* lege, by bringing down to the ground, within a few yards of the goal line, the mighty Bonar. Thrice also did he send spinning into the field away from the line the struggling, wriggling, dodging form of the valiant Usher. Kiley was only a third-class man, and his elevation to the senior team is only recent ; but if he plays constantly as he did on Saturday, he is tolerably sure to remain there. Next in the popular estimation came Spencer, a weighty Nelson forward. Securing the ball from Caffin, he ran almost from halfway, and in spite of the plucky resistance of Moyes, scored. He failed to oonvert the try. The first score was made by the Collegianß. G- Fell, Boon, and Mules started a passing rush, and Mules, with a human load on his back, dropped over the line and scored. He failed to convert the try, The only other score was also by the Collegians. Fell seoured the ball from a pass behind the scrum, and rushing between Bonar and the sorum, he easily evaded the Nelson man and scored. Mules again failed to increase the total. This made the score 6 points to 3, and thus the College won. It was a popular victory, as the partisans of the College were there in force, and as one player was heard to spasmodically remark, "Though Nelson were Borry they had lost, the College were glad they had won." Among the victors, Mules, Fell, Biley— the invaluable, " unthought of " Biley— L. Bonar, Simpson, Moyes, Ladley, Boon, Houlker, and others did excellent work. Simpson at half was very clever, and Mules and Fell played saving games. Moyes and Boon were conspicuous by the number of rushes they started. Among the conquered, M. Bonar. as might have been expected, did fine work, and had it not been for certain unconsidered obstacles ho would have scored several times. Once, indeed, he did get over the line, with Moyes' arms around his neck in a loving embrace. But the score wa3 void because of the offoide play of a member of bis team. Usher was a veritable mine ofworth. He repeatedly broke through ,the College line, and!almost)gotaway, but was generally hauled back by an untimely hand. Redgrave, Johnston, Spencer, Adams, and Hursthonse were observable in the forwards, and in the backs Brown, Levien, and Bobbie, especially the former, did excellent work. Caffin at full back made some poor as well as some excellent kicks, but he collared well, Spcea precludes a more detailed account of the play. The College from the start forced the game, though at the end of the matoh it was Nelson who were forcing. They carried the ball down to the Nelson goal, where Caffin relieved. Fell then made a mark, from whioh Mules failed to make a goal. Houlker made a short run, but was hauled up by Johnston. Usher, Bonar, and Levien then made a little ground with a passing ru;h. Soon Fell, Boon, Emerson, and Moyes made a rush, which was followed by another by Fell, Mules, and Boon. Then Usher ran through the College men, but gained no advantage. Soon after, amidst wild cheering, Mules scored. The College immediately after compelled Caffin to force down. Then L. B. Bonar made a short run, and being backed cleverly, kicked into touch. Sulbsequenty M. Bonar, Bedgrave, Bobbie, and Hursthouse made a rush, temporarily gaining some ground. From a full kiok, Mules sent the ball hustling down field, and Nelson forced down the ball. After Miiles had kicked well from a mark Houlker, Moyes, Boon, and Ml made a rush, C. Bedgrave and Johnston then did some nice dribbling. Riley later relieved with a fine kick under difficulties. Nelson had a free kick at the goal, but did not increase the score. Then Spencer scored as previously described. At half time the score was 3 — 3. On resumption of play Mules made two futile kicks at the goal. Bonar seized the ball from the latter of the kicks, and ran over the touch line near his own goal under compulsion. Brown later made a short rush, Nelson pressed hard, and Mules relieved by a run aoross field. Then Brown made another rush, but was unsupported, Mules had another vain "smack" at the goal. A tough struggle sbon took place on the line, concluded by Bobbie kicking into touoh. Then it was that Fell scored, 6—3, Biley, Bonar, and Usher were the most conspicuous. Bonar made several dashes for the goal, but was each time floored by the aotive Biley. Usher dashed through and about the College lines in a vain endeavour to score. The Nelsons made a determined rush, and just as the ball went into touch, almost on the goal lino, time was called, leaving the College the victors by 6to 3. Mr Sigley refereed with satisfaction to both sides.