MERIVALE v. CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6129, 11 May 1885, Page 2

M ERIVALE v. CHRISTCHURCH.

This match was played on Saturday, and resulted in an unexpected win for the junior Club by a goal kicked from the field to a try. Beswick won the toss, and took the south goal, with a strong wind at hia back. Garrard kicked off for Merivale, when the batt waa at once token into the Beds* twenty-five Une, and, after a scrimmage, Alfred Gapes secured it, and in spite of the strong head wind kicked a grand goal. After the kick off Morgan got away with the baU, and finished an excellent run with a try near the touch Une. The place kick was entrusted to Mathias, who made a good attempt, but faUed. The second speU was a succession of loose scrimmages, in whioh the Merivale men showed superiority over their opponents, but no further score was made, the rain which feU during this speU making the baU difficult to hold. TurnbuU, Moir, and Short made serviceable runs, but were prevented from scoring by the Blues' backs. The whole of the Merivale .team played a good game, the forwards especially being very fast. Short, TurnbuU, Moir and Beswick (forwards),and Mathias, Morgan, and Lightfoot (backs) played best j for Christchurch. '

The Christchurch second fifteen, proceeded to Rangiora' on Saturday, played against North Canterbury, and came off, victorious. Scores—Christchurch, three tries; 6 points; North Canterbury, one try: 9 points. The game was played in a heavy rain storm, and consequently the backs had not. much to do. For the winner?, Palmer, Wilkinson, Curry, Lawrie, MarshaU, and Broadhurst played weU, as did Helmore, Sheehan, Terlesse, McNeU, Higgins, and Wilson for the losers. The teams dined together in the. evening at the Junction Hotel, and spent a very pleasant even—g together. The East Christchurch second and third fifteens counteracted the defeat of their first fifteen on Saturday by Buecesßf—ly encountering the second and third fifteens of Sydenham. The former match resulted ■ in- a decisive victory'for, the Gold and -Black by one goal (kicked from a try) and four tries (18 points to nil). The tries were secured by Barge, Hinge and Scully (3), and from one of the latter A. Hobbs kicked, a goal. This player also kicked a poster from one try, and nearly succeeded in potting goals from the field on two occasions. ' Price, Craddock and F. Hobbs acquitted themselves well in the back play for the Gold and Black, the latter executing a good run the length of. the field, L. Wi and C. Burke, A. L. Smith, Hinge and Scully distinguishing themselves forward, while for the Sydenham team White, HadreU and Garty played weU. '. The Bast Chriatchurch Third scored two tries through the efforts of Tait and Johnston respectively] and from a mark of Tait's G. M. Louisson kicked a goal, thus making eight poinjta to Sydenham's nil. The Merivale second fifteen met the Christchurch third fifteen, the match resulting in an easy victory for Merivale by seven tries to ml. Christohurch played four and Merivale one man short. Only one speU was played, and that of thirtjfive minutes. The tries were obtained by Pope (2), Pearce (2), Po_i, Evans, and Parkyn one each. The match, Lincoln CoUege v Richmond, resulted in a win for Bic_nond, after a very close contest, by a goal (four points) !to nU. For the College, Webb played a grand game, and was ably seconded by Wales, BUey, Peters, and Gabites. For the Richmond, BaUantyne, DaUas, Haydon, DeMaus, and Guthrie played well. The goal was kicked by DeMauß from a mark by Dallas.

The match between the Richmond second, fifteen and Merivale third, on North Park, resulted in a victory for th« formev by four points to nU. For Richmond, Thomson potted a goal from a mark, and Prebble, White, Weir, and Thomson played weU, as did Tombs, Munday, Smart, and Boot for Merivale.