FOOTBALL

Bruce Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2177, 24 June 1890, Page 3

FOOTBALL

At the beginning of the football season, when a club was inaugurated in Milton, some persons fretly averred that it would not last half the season, or even succeed in raising a presentable team. This, however, has been undeniably proved to be a mistake, as the club has umv played three matches, of which two wire lost and the other fairly won. The last match was played on the club's excellent ground on Saturday last, when the local club met a team from the employees of the ' Ota-^o D.iily Times ' and • Witness ' office. The visitors arrived by the morning'b express, and were shown about the town, visiting the mill, pottery, &c. Before the game, a lunch was provided by the Milton team for their visitors.

At 2 o'clock the teams prepared for play, when it iippeared that the visitors had a slight advantage as to sizs and weight, the

team containing several bearded and grownup men, while the Milton team showed several slight boyish figures. Reid (capt.) won the toss for Milton, and elected to defend the northern goal, thus having the slight advantage of the little wind there was blowing, and having the sun a little behind him.

Smeaton kcked < ff for the 'Times,' when he tried to disconcert the home team by dribbiing the ball t>ff instead of kicking. However, the Milton forwards rnahed him and soon stopped that During the whda of the first spell the ' Times ' had to play on the defensive, and were forced down tbrpe times. Abi ut half tim", Murray Martin, aud Reid started a rush, a id succeeded in dribbling the ball over the line, when Reid secured a try. Porter took the kick, but failed to enhance the sere.

At the change of end** the game became very fast, the ball travelling up aud dowu the field. Smeaton and Oliver several times during this spell went near scoring, and gained a lot of ground for their Bide. Abou 1 tbe middle of tbe spell Hannay got the ball just inside the Milton tweuty-five, and succeeded in tunning in and scoring a try. This might have been prevented, bad thu three quarter back on that side been in his place, but he was just then among the forwards or somewhere out of the way. Sraeaton failed to convert the try. About ten minutes before time was called Milton was awarded a free kick for a piss forward. Morris took the kick, and mulling the ball badly it landed at Smeaton's feet, who promptly dropped a goal with a splendid kick. This rather damped Milton's spirits, but they tried hard to equalize the score, and several times looked dangerous. However time was called without any alteration being made in the Bcorp, which at the close of the game stood — 'Times' 4 points (goal and try), Milton 1 point.

Of the visitors, Smeaton and Oliver were undoubtedly the best backs, and Boraman and Libatt were the most prominent of the forwards. For Milton, Lynch at half, J. Comer and Porter at three-quarter played well, Comer being specially brilliant and showing great improvement in his play. Milton's full-back seemed a little off color, as was certainly the case with some of the forwards. Of these, Reid, P. Comer, Murray, and Martin were the best.

The visitors returned home by the evening express highly pleased with their day's outing, every one averring that they had enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and promising to pay Milton another visit before the close of the eeasoo.

Players should try to keep in remembrance that be a game ever so interesting it is disagreeable to players and spectators alike to hear so much unnecessary talk during its progress. This was a bad feature of tbe game on Saturday and should be strictly avoided in future, as it tends to raise angry feelings, interfering with the friendly nature of the play, and bringing the game into disfavor. Forward.