FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6547, 16 September 1886, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

HEW SOUTH WALES vCAXTEBBUBY.

The return match between New South Wales and Canterbury took place yesterday afternoon on Lancaster Park, in the presence of a large number of spectators. The weather was exceedingly fine, witn a slight easterly wind, but the ground was in a slippery condition, being very wet and soft. Shaw (Captain) and Austin played here for Sydney for the ■ first time. The Canterbury team was the same as last Wednesday. The Bey. J. Hoateon acted an referee. Mr T. Allan umpired for the visitors and Mr W. Cotterill for the home team. Belbridge played fullback instead of Walker for the vjeitorp. After the kick-off by Reid, the ball by back play was carried into the Crimaonß , twenty-five, where a Eeriee of scrummages took place. Austin, Weaver and Colquhoun made several attempts at running, but were collared. Weaver got a mark, and from this kick Helmore got a similar mark, from which Bean attempted a goal, which was frustrated by a Crimson rush! The ball was kicked by Helmore close to the goal line, and from the scrummage Helmore passed to Francis, who sent the ball on to Webb, who ran behind and secured tbe first touchdown. Wilson took the kick, which failed, the ball falling short. After the kick the ball was takm into the Bed and Black twenty-fives. It was quickly taken back with a dribbling rush, with Homer at the head. Auetin,

next essayed a run, but passed badly? and Webb obtained possession. His kiok of the ball took play to the visitors' goal line, where a scrummage was formed and Foots got over the line, but was called bask for off-side play. Immediately after-; wards Helmore got in without any trouble.! Wilson failed at the kick, which was an easy one. From a scrum, in front of the goal Helmore, who had the ball passed to him, sent it to Francis, who potted' a very neat goal, making the score 8 points to nothing in the short space of fifteen minutes. The home team carried tne scrums, and collared the visitors, who preferred running to kicking, when the latter I play would have been tbe best. "Weaver. [ Warren, and several of the forwards played ' hard, but their efforts were neutralised by their opponents, who kept them on the defensive, and eventnally Homer got a try, from which Bean kicked a long goal—. 13 points to nothing. 1 Flay being resumed, the Sydney men showed somewhat better judgment, and worked with greater precision, though with not much more combination. Austin secured the leather and made a neat paan, to McArthur, who sent it on to Weaver;' and that back again distinguished himself by a pretty run, which was not Allowed to Bcrre, and AUardyoe and Homer with prompt assistance removed play, only [ however for Can to shine in a run, I which also ended fruitlessly. One of Helmore's dodgy runs got ball well down to the western goal line, over whirat it was finally kicked and the Crimsoip forced down. Small next tried runn ; ng but failed to get far away. Despite the, cry of the captain to his men to " kiofcp they had co far rarely done bo, and consequently their quick rnns were o! very little avail. They also seldom had an opportunity of running in their oppw nents* twenty - fives, and by the time they ever reached there they were rather too much exhausted with avoiding beiejj thrown. Small, McArthur, and Bead were, again prominent in shifting the scene of the play, to which AUardyce, Frande, Bean and Webb responded. By a neat \ pass with his foot, Allardyoe got the ball from Francis and threw it to Bean, who I eecured another touchdown and took the kick, which reeulted in no goal. Falf-tiuie was called, the home team having obtained 15 noints to their opponents' nil. v No time was lost in changing goals. Bean kicked off, followed soon afterJbjgjjft run by Shortn*, who was oveitajren .tsJt ■Homer* andY a~ ecrum made, which gave Bead an opportunity that he took advantage of, and was only prevented from scoring by the cool collaring of Wilson, Canterbury's f nil-back. Belbridge next stopped • Bed and Black rush with Helmore at the head, and Colquhoun, getting the ball, started on a run, which Helmore broke. Austin got away from among his forwards, and by this individual piece of play, his men were allowed to gain a deal of ground, which they soon lost, and were eventually forced down. Shortus j afterwards kicked when he saw his run could be of little service, but he kicked low, and the Beds rushing the ball before them. Fuller and Fooks took it over the line, the latter seeming a touch-down, from which Bean only landed a poster. After this the Crimson rallied splendidly, and with more rapidity than was expected of them they had the Beds penned on the south-west corner in a patch of mud. A tight and vigorously contested scrummage resulted, which the Beds carried amid cheers from the spectators, and closing their line dribbled up the ground. Austin | picked up finely, and paeeing to Weaver, the visitors were down again and enthusiastically cheered, as they looked like scoring. Their anxiety was overreached. They cent the ball too rapidly through the scrummage, and Wilson touched down in Belf-defence for the first time. The game had now become of a more exciting nature; the Crimson backs were kicking better and gaining more ground, and altogether were playing much better. The home team appeared to have loosened their energies, but their forcedown bad taught them not to hold their opponents too cheaply, and after another of Weaver's fine rene had been spoilt the Beds went forward with renewed vigor and twice again forced the Crimsons to touch down. Shortus, whose speed has always been well spoken of, got the ball near his own line and started off, but had to run right across the ground before he got well away, but when he reached the opening it was instantly closed, and what a few , seconds previous looked like the run of , the day was unceremoniously nipped in 1 the bud. Colquhoun, Small, and Caird succeeded in getting play near the centre > but to no purpose, and it was soon so close to the visitors* lines as to require all their efforts to avert another try. They were engaged strenuously defending their line when time was called, having been beaten by seventeen points to nothing. Their play was much better than that of last Wednesday, but they apparently rely too much on their backs, whose speed yesterday could not be well shown, owing to the slippery nature of the ground. In the evening the teams were entertained at a ball given in honor of the visitors by Mr A. E. G. Bhodes, President of the Canterbury Bugby Union. ~