MERIVALE v EAST CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7878, 1 June 1891, Page 6

MERIVALE v EAST CHRISTCHURCH.

The above match was played on the firstnamed Club's ground, when East Christchurch won by 2 tries to 1 try. Hobbs won the toss, and played with the sun at his back, and -Garrard kicked off for Merivale, An interchange of kicks between the backs, and then the ball -went out at the central flag. The first scrum formed showed that the game would be a hard one, as it lasted some minutes. Finally the Yellows got on a dribbling rush, and Bates, all but scored, Merivale being forced down. Soon after the kick-out some neat passingbetween Menzies, White and F. Homer transferred the play to the East's quarters, but Hobbs by some good picking and the Ebert brothers and Samuels by fine forward work took the leather to mid-field, where Garrard and Evans got a nice dribble back to the East's line, and a force-down resulted. Then some more good play on the part of the East's forwards had the Merivale goal line in danger, and Pearse saved his side by some excellent tackling. From this until the call of half time the game, which was principally a forward one, was up and down the field, aud neither lido could claim much advantage. Soon after the start of the second spell, Merivale assumed aggressive tactics,' aud Joe Homer and McGuire each in turn lost a try through over-anxioasne3S, and for some time the East were hard pressed, and only the good kicking of Hobbs and Quinn saved a score. While being sorely pressed near their goal lino, Heyward and. Spring fot the ball, and by a tine comined dribble took it- the whole length of, the ground, and the latter kicking it |over the Blues' line, outpaced Pearce, and scored, but no goal resulted. This infused fresh life into the Blues, and they set off to wipe out the score, and some fine passing by F. Homer, Cook, and White, ended in the latter running over the east goal line, but he lost the ball, and the East were forced down. Then Joe Homer, Leach, and McGuire started a fine dribbling rush, and Evans, backing up fast, scored, but the angle was too acute for the try to be improved. The Blues still continued the attack and P. Menzies nearly scored and East were forced down. Rallying from the kick out the Yellows played up well and had decidedly the best of the game till call of time. They appeared too good for their opponents in the scrum, but whenever the Blues got the ball amongst their backs a considerable lot of ground was gained. The Yellows still continued the attack and from a loose rush, in which Bates and Ebert (2) were conspicuous, Samuels scored a try, which was noC improved and time was called soon after. George Homer and Lowry were absent from the Merivale team while East Christchurch were fully represented.