FOOTBALL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2091, 29 September 1896, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Okun's v. Lb Bon's,

A correspondent writes :—The above match took place in Le Bon's on Saturday last, and ended in a. draw (3 points each). The Le Bon's team were: Full-back, Oldridge; threpquarters, Smith, A. and I<\ Leonardo and Mora ; five-eights, Chaplain ; half, W. Leonardo ; forwards, F. Aldridge and H. Barker (wing), J. Henderson, Mcintosh, Wilkie, J. Dalglisb, P. and E. Barnett. Okain's played exactly the same team as at Okain's last Saturday. Le Bon's woo the toss, and elected to play with the wind in their favour. Okain's kicked off, and Oldridgo returned, and very fast play folllowed for some lime, the ball going from one end to the other, until about a quarter of an hour from half-time when Mora, by a smart bit of play, scored a try. No goal resulted, and from then until half-time the ball remained in the Okain's ground.

On resuming, P. Barnett kicked off, and following up sruart'y collared the Okain's full back just as he took the ball in the Okain's 25. From a scrum Okain's got a dribble on, and was only stopped by Oldridge on the twenty-five mark. Here Okain's, with a strong wind in their favour, made things a bit merry for Le Bon's, and getting the ball repeatedly from scrums, got in some good pass;ng, but the sound collaring of the Le Bon's backs stopped the performances in a very markea manner. The wing forwards and five-eights of Le Bon's by their smart collaring round scrums seemed to bewilder Hartley and Mcintosh, and proved what good men in their proper position can do. About half way through the second spell R. Oorsbie, from a very palpable forward ball, scored, Oldridge collaring him just on the line. From then till time the game was a succession of scrums, Marriott and Ware both nearly scoring, but no good, only to be grassed.

Mr Barry acted as referee, and his ruling was not correct to say the least of it, allowing ten minutes 6bortin the first spell when Le Boil's had the wind, and twelve mi nates too long in the last, besides never allowing a tor ward ball or off-side appeal for _c Bon's once, while Okain's had as many as they-asked for, t may mention that Okain's, when Le Bon's weut to their Bay, found their own referee H. McTntosh, and this time Le Bon's engaged R. Craw, but on the latter coming over, Okain's refused to play nnless Barry, a gentleman staying in Okains for the good of his health acted, thus : choosing. ,u their own man in both matches/ Le Bon's having to take a back seat. Also whpn Okain's came ovt?r to play Le Bon's before they brought W. Barkle to referee for. them, and Le Bon's were quite satisfied, but rain' stopped the match. Now, however, a Little Akaloa man is not good enough ; in fact only think what a wretched place Little Akaloa must be, not having one individual capable of showing what any man with j a spark of honour will give by fair play.

I think this refusing to play with ft referee from a bye team is altogether a mean thing. Le Bon's, however, can say that they .have always consented to abide by the decision of the County Association, and never once objected to a man from the bye team, and this at any rate shows a true sportsmanlike spirit and trust in their fellow footballers.

The result of the match Okain's v. Le Bon's wins the cup for Akaroa for season 1896. The points are as follows:—-Akaroa 12> Okaln'B 9 with Little Akaloa to play, Le Bon's 7. Wairewa 6, Little Akaloa 4 with Okain's to play.