IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 4

IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

SEATTLE, November 28, 1913. After a fairly smooth trip we reached Seattle on Monday night, November 17th, at about 10 p.m., and stayed on, board tho boat. At 9 a.m. next day wo left for Victoria by the s.s. Princess Victoria, saying good-bye to tho United States, as our next landing was to be in British territory. A run of a little over four hours, in bitterly cold weather, brought us to Victoria, where we were met by representatives of tho Rugby Union. Mr George Nicholson, an old Wellingtonian, "and now secretary and manager of the Camosun Club in Victoria, had very kindly gone over to Seattle to meet us the evening before, and he accompanied us across to Victoria. Tho weather -was cold and wet, and we anticipated a m*addy ground for our match on the following day (19th inst.). Our anticipations were realised, for the field was in a bad condition, being very soft, several icy coW pools of water in the playing area making it unpleasant for the players, while* a bitter wind chilled the spectators, of whom there were about 1600 present. Our team comprised:—Backs, Cutholl, Lynch, R. Roberts, Loveridge, Mitehinson, Gray, and E. Roberts; forward-, Murray (wing), SeUars, Wflliams, Graham, Dining, Dewar, McDonald, and Cain. While, as the score implies, the play of our team was distinctly superior to that of the local team, the latter

showed better knowledge °* ** n ? r points of Rugby than the players in California, and," but for their want of practice, and the resulting lack of combination," -would have given the visitors a hard contest. -ft the commencement of the game they, actually placed the Blacks on the defor_ave, and, for a time, the hopes of the Victorians rose hHi the passing and fielding of their players being first-class. But the pace was too fast for them to last, and the sunorior combination, and tactics of the New Zealanders gradually told, a fine passing bout, started by E. Roberts, ending in his namesake scoring first blood. Once having penetrated the defence the Blacks kept up the attack, and Mitchinson «nckcd a nice goal from a penaLy after Lynch had been stopned after a dangerous run to within a few feet of tho Victoria goal line. Before the spell ended Mitchinson, who was in the limelight all through the game, scored a* try, which he converted himselr, and also kicked another goal from a penalty, the scoro at half-time being 14 points to nil. On resuming, the local team, with tho strong wind behind them, showed great improvement, their forwards nutting in some really good work, while their backs executed several effective passing rushes. The Blacks, however, gradually assumed the offensive, and fino kicking by CnthiU and Lynch pm-ti-i, t"..em in a good position for attack, E. Roberts scored a clever try Ines were also scored by Cam nr.d Loveridge, but were not converted, and the game ended in a win for our team by 23 points to nil. , - Several alterations were made in our team for the second match «»»"« Victoria on the Saturday, the kne-up being as follows:—Backs: Stohr, Lynch, R. Roberts. McGregor McKenzie, Gray, and Taylor. Forwards: M rrav (wing), Sellnrs, Cain, ■tewa-. Atk.nson, Downing, Douglas, and McDonald. The cround had dried up considerably in the interval, and was m very fair order for this game, while warm sunshine made it much more pleasant for tho spectators. With a dry ball and a surer footing than they had for the previous match, the Blacks showed to much better advantage, and utterly bewildered their opponents with their speed and trickiness, though their carelessness at times in passing would have got them into trouble had they been opposed by a cleverer team. The forwards played really well, both in scrummage and loose play, though in the latter' department tho opposing vanguard kept them busy. Our scoro consisted of ei»-_t tries, scored by Lynch (4), McGregor (2), McKenzie and Taylor, ot •which Stohr converted two. Cam and Roberts each one, while Stohr kicked a penalty goal. The total score was thus 35 points to nil in our favour. The game, though hard, was a clean and pleasant one for players and spectators alike, and -was excellently governed oy Mr L. Patterson, of Vancouver, who was, without doubt, the most able referee that we havo seen since leaving New Zealand. THE FATAL ACCIDENT. A very sad accident occurred in thia game, which, resulting fatally, cast a gloom over both teams as well as over the whole community. Peter Ogden, tho Victoria full back, received a severe fall, in the first spell, which dazed him, but, although advised to* retire, he declined to leave tho field. At the end of the spell our captain strongly recommended that Ogden should be replaced by another player, on the ground that he was not m a fit condition to play, but the Victorian captain, after speaking -with Ogden, decided to let him play on. Just before the call of time, Ogden, while in possession of the ball, was collared by Douglas, both players falling together. Douglas rose at once, and went on, but Ogden was unconscious, and had to be carried off the field. A medical man at once attended him, and declared him suffering from concussion of the brain. Before leaving the ground. our manager visited Ogden, who was lying in tho dressing room under the care of the doctor, and, .was informed by the latter that the injured youth had received severe concussion, but that he was coming round all right. This was gratifying news, and we all returned to the hotel satisfied that the youth would recover, and so the shocking news of his death, which was conveyed to our manager at- about 7 p.m., camo as a terrible surprise. All festivities were, of course, abandoned, the sad and sudden calamity qasting a gloom over the whole city.

A run of a little over four hours in the "Princess Victoria" took us to Vancouver, the trip being a very cold and wet one.

"We met the Vancouver Union's representatives for the final match of our tour. After the heavy and continuous rain, tho ground was in a wretched condition, and when our manager and the captain inspected it at 11 a.m. it was doubtful if the game could be played at all. But soon after noon the rain ceased, and so it was decided to play, though, of course, -a good exhibition of Rugby was out of the question.

Despite the dismal weather, a crowd of at least 3000 went to the Brockton Point Ground, where tne game was played, and, judging by the interest shown in the play, they were by no means disappointed with the fare provided for them. The star features of the p-ame were the brilliant place-kick-ing by Stohr, and tho accurate passing, in spite of the wet ground and.the greasy ball,.of tho New Zealand backs. The gnmo resulted in a win for our team _by 44 ooints to nil, comprising 12 tries, of which four were converted. The scorers were Mitoliineon (4 tries), McGregor (D, E. Roborts (2), McKenzie and Stohr earh one try. Stohr converted four tries ail from difiicult ancles. This score broucht the team's agirregate of points to 610 as against 6 points scored against us.