FOOTBALL.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 304, 28 June 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

LAW CLERKS & BANKERS (3) v. STOCK AGENTS (nil.). This game was played on the Itec. •oja Saturday afternoon. 'The ; v Vj*ax>}]n<l resembled a ploughed pa'cl'•V.^fiock at the commencement, and, ;,/ naturally did not improve during the • cour.se of the game. The spectators missed the faces of Messrs Roake, Bunny, Young and Bain from the auctioneering faculty, and the game would have been more interesting if / Messrs Biekforcl and Greenwood had donned their jerseys. There were, only two "learned friends" among the victorious side, but they justified their inclusion in thfe team. The hook and liamnior tcan\ kicked off. The effort proved too much D. Rose, A\ho relapsed into a reclining position in the only pool of water on tlio ground. Good even play re- "■ suited for the first few minutes, first one side acting on the defence and then the other. Fitzherbert got in a splendid run, but "was brought to book by Monteith; v The stock agents, chiefly owing to Stewart's forcing, rallied somewhat, and carried the play into the opposing team's twenty-five. The- financial gentlemen were penalised for a player being offside. The kick, which was taken by Monteith, failed, the ball being too sodden for effective kicking. The legal-banking element made a good forcing rush up the field, the ball going out near the stockmen's goal posts. Fitzherbert managed to secure the leather, and fell over the ■" line, half the opposing team falling on top of him. The attempt to add ' the major points failed. Shortly, afterwards the whistle sounded for half-time. On changing sicles^ file stock agents made many desperate 'attempts to score, but alas*! the legal • element left them no loopholes by which tliey i could carry out their desir o. Some very good play was shown by_ the law-finance team, but the stock agents, trained as they are in "'the (lodgings of other stock, did not seem to be disconcerted by the pressing, rather showing to advantage. ■ Monteith carried the ball out of the stock agents' territory, and very nearly scored. Fitzherbert and D. Rose collided while going at a good pace, and both fell very lovingly together in a pool of water to the very great amusement of the . spectators. • At the call of time play was" in the .centre of the field. Allowing for the state of the ground, and the intermittent fain which fell throughout, . the game was perhaps as good an exposition of Rugby as lias been played on the local ground for a good many weeks past. It would have been difficult to identify

the grimy- mud-bespattered players who came off the ground on Saturday, with the austere individuals of everyday life. Mr Snell made an •impartial referee.