SENIOB MATCHES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8483, 15 May 1893, Page 5

SENIOB MATCHES.

In the championship matches of Saturday last Merivale,-beat East Christchurch by 3 points to % "Nothing; Canterbury College Sydenham "by 5 points to nothing; and Linwood Chmtchurch by 26 points to 3 points,

MERtVALE v EAST CHRISTCHURCH.

The contest between the above teams cat-ted a lot of interest in football circles in Christchurch, and fully a couple of thousand spectators assembled at Lancaster Park to iWitiiess the struggle for supremacy. The game was the most exciting one seen this season, Merivale, although having none the best of the play, winning by a try to notliing. Mr W. J. CotteriU acted as referee, and he must have found the position a most arduous one, owing to the frequent, and many times unnecessary, appeals from the players in both teams. His rulings, however, were accepted with satisfaction by both sides, although to the on-lookers it appeared that he was a bit too lenient to that bane to Rugby, football, the wing forwards, for offside play and obstruction. The game was started by Evans kicking off /or Merivale, with a slight easterly wind behind him, but one of his side being off-side the ball was brought back and scrummaged in mid-field. After a little forward play in neutral territory, Lang kicked to the East Christchurch (Yellows) twenty-five, and the Blues heeling out well gave their backs a chance, but tho opposing tackling was too good to allow much ground to be gained. For some moments the ball hovered between the half* way flag and the Yellows' twenty-five, and on two occasions the Bines were awarded free kioks for off-side play by Gerard and A, Kbert respectively, but they gained very

little ground .by them. Page then kicked to past the centres, and just after a grand passing run by the Yellows, in whioh Forbes, Page, Scrimshaw, McKondry and several of the forwards had a hand, carried the ball right on to the Blues' goal line, but it was soon removed to the twenty five flag, only to be returned again by some good passing by Forbes, Spring, Pago and MoKendry, the two latter almost scoring. Tbe Blues were momentarily relieved by a force, but tin Yellow forwards, headed by McKnndry, A. Ebert and Samuels, rushed the leather te their opponents'goal-lino once more, Lang and White coming to tho rescue with timely kicks. Spring intercepted a pass and quickly transferred t:ie ball to Page, who lost a capital chance by knocking on. The Blues wero still hard at. work defending their stronghold when P. Meurdos got possession aud kicking tho ball over Scrimshaw's head again, picked it up and got clear away, but he was caught ur, from beiiiud by Scrimshaw in the East Christchurch twenty-live. A scrum or two followed, aud thou Cook got possession and sent the ball ou to White, who passed to Lang, and the last-named transferred it to Eraser, who scored near tho corner hag; Cook's kick at goal being unsuccessful. Almost immediately after tho Yellows were forced by a kick by Meiisies. Tho Bluer now had the best of the play, but Spring, by intercepting a pass, removed the danger, and Pago, Mekendry and Scrimshaw wore chiefly responsible for tho ball boing taken to tho Merivale twenty-rive. Forbes (East} nearly got over tho lino. White then rau to tho centre, and the samo player kicked out of touch in the Yellows* twenty-live, wheu shortly after Lawrence marked, but Scrimshaw returned. The East thou gradually worked tho leather into their opponents' quarters, where it remained until half-time. On changing over Croabie kicked off for East Christchurch,and the ball going over the Merivale line Lawrence forced, and the same team woro twice moro forced before the first scrimmage during the spell was formed, the last force being from a place at goal from a mark by Hobbs. A lot of forward play between the half-way flag en Merivale a tweuty-fivo followed, and theu a passing run between Forbes, Spring and Page enabled the last named to all but score, ana a moment later ho just missed getting over, Lawrence collaring him well both times. Tho Yellows kept up the attack, Lang momentarily relieving by intercepting passes, but tho Blues' defence was impregnable, aud beyond a couplo of forco downs no further damage was done, although ou on 6 occasion Croßbie narrowly escaped kicking a goal from a free kick for Cook picking the ball out of tho scrummage Tho \ellowr continued to have the boat of the play until within ten minutes to timo, when the ball, for the first time during tho spell, was kicked out of touch hi the Yellows' half of the field of play. From thence to the finish first one side and thou the other had the advantage, and the oall of time saw hard scrummaging boing carried on in neutral territory.

CANTERBURY COLLEGE ▼ SYDENHAM.

This match was played ou tho old Show ground at Sydenham. It was witnessed by a fairly large number of spectators, aud was won by the College by 5 points to nothing. Mr J. U. Collins acted as referee. In the first spell no score was made, but Sydeuliam wero several times forced down. The Maroons (College) had the best of tho play, and Young at full-back for Sydenham was frequently called upon to relieve, whioh he successfully did, the honours being shared by Reese, whose runs and good kicks were of gteat service. At the call of time play was in the College quarters. A pieoe of passing between Ward, Croddook, Cresswell and Bannister having been spoiled by Reese intercepting and kicking well down the ground. In the second spell the game was made faster. It opened with an attack by Reese and Ritchie, whioh was stemmed by Cresswell, and afterwards Williams further relieved the pressure by a good dribble. Duncan and Thompson, however, made a fine return rush, whioh was checked by Gray, and then Young pluokily stopped a dribbling rush with Ward in the vuu. Reese followed with a neat run—College having now got into tho Blues' quarters— and bounced the ball past Buchanan, but Dawson took it off-side and Sydenham were awarded a free kick, whioh was placed, but no goal came of it. From a line-out near the centre Morris secured the leather and was collared on the goal line, where a series of scrums resulted, whioh were eventually carried by the local team. This was succeeded by some'fine passing between the brothers Craddock, Cresswell and Bannister with tbe result that Cresswell obtained a try, from which ho placed a goal, which was the first and last score. A Tittle before this Duncan had been compelled to retire through an injury to his shoulder, and a few minutes later R. Williams was token oil and the match was continued to the end with fourteen men aside. The remainder of the play was of an open character and faster, ana fairly even, both teams being called to act on the defensive.

LINWOOD v CHRISTCHURCH.

These teams met for tho first time this seasoh on Saturday afternoon at Lancaster Park. iMbe first spell MoFarlane obtained a lucky try, which Hobbs nearly converted, the ball striking the post. After somo even play the ball was takon to tho Reds' line,, where O'Brien got a pass, and ran in under the post. The same player placed a neat goal from tho try. Soon after a neat bit of passing between Price, Hobbs, and O'Brien Baw the latter player score again by first obtaining a try and then kicking a goal from it. The play so far was Very even, though tne scoring was all on one side. After halftime the Rods did not play bo well as in the first spell, and the opposing bnoks did much as they liked. O'Brien lod off with a try and a goal, and after Mendelsohn had kicked a fine goal from a free kick, Hobbs scored a try, from which O'Brien placed yet another ?;oal. ' The same player added to tho score ateron by dropping a smart goal from the field. The game thus ended in an easy win for the Linwood by 26 points to 3. Bor tho winners Hobbs, A. Price, O'Brien, Irvine, McNamara, and McFarlano wore the most prominent, while for the Reds Mendelsohn was most noticeable, Humphries, Smart, Marshall, aud Marchant also playing welL