FOOTBALL NOTES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10150, 24 September 1898, Page 3

FOOTBALL NOTES.

{By Dnor-KicK.]

•'Weekly Press and Referee.

Canterbury commenced the present representative fixtures with a match against South Canterbury, when thoy met at Lancaster Park in July, and they finished up the season by playing a return match against the southerners at Temuka, on Thursday last, when to the surprise of many the elder Union's team was somewhat easily defeated. The North Canterbury fifteen was not by any means the strongest that could have been placed in the field, several prominent players being unable to make the journey. The forwards were a fairly representative lot, but the backs might have been considerably improved upon. South Canterbury made a bold bid for victory when they played in Christchurch, and after their long string of reverses they are to be congratulated upon their success, this being the first tinio they have beaten the northerners.

The special correspondent of this journal, who witnessed the above contest, writes: — The return match between North and Smith Canterbury was played at Temuka on Thursday last, when the elements were anything but kind, rain having fallen the night previous to the game, and loft the ground in a very heavy sttte, and in places sheets of water were on the ground. Added to this a match had just been played on the ground before tho teams took the field, and it was badly cut up. The same ball was used for both games, and it was more like a bladder of lard than a football. The win of the Southerners came as a great surprise, for out of the eight games played between these teams this is tho first timo the South Canterbmy Union's team has conquered. Fincham was the only back in the Northern team that had played against (Southland and Otago, and there were also alterations in the forward division owing to men not-being able to got away, wliich made Canterbury's team, comparatively speaking, weaker.On the other hand, South Canterbury had the redoubtable N. Orr playing for them. It was not so much in the back play that Canterbury suffered, for, at times, they played well, despite the wet ground and ball, but forward the Southerns played a hard, fast following-up gome, seeming to be always on the oval, and they were successful in just getting on the ball in time when a score was about. However, with all this given in, Canterbury should have done better, and they did not play up to their true form. O'Malley, the South Canterbury fullback, was good at taking and kicking the ball, but he should have collared Robilliard when he scored if he had been up to his work in tackling. Purchase played a good gamo at wing three-quarter, his scores being very smartly got. McTeague, on the other wing, was only fair, but he was not so clever as his captain, Khirtcliffe, in the centre, did a lot of work, but it .was very patchy, and though he showed some good form at times, he failed on other occasions. Orr played a safe and clever game at five-eighths,. and his only fault was that he passed too high once or twice, but ho was a thorn in Canterbury's side. Collins, at half, was good. His passing out at the right time was smartly done, and he stopped rushes well. Roddick, who scored three, tries, was very brilliant on the wing of the scrummage, but he played a lot off-side, and with a stricter referee than Mr N. Mcßobie proved in the game, his side would have lost a lot of his success. He is a real good player, however, and fully up to any "rep." form in New Zealand. Presland, on the other wing, also played well, but is not so well up in the Cc as Roddick. In the pack Fox was a j way ahead of his comrades, his loose work being exceptionally good, and he is very clever. Wright, Hepburn and Niall also did good work in the vanguard. Forbes, the Canterbury full-back* was very poor for the first twenty-five minutes, being unable to hold the slippery ball, which, if he had, should have stopped Iwo of. his opponents' tries. In fairness to Forbes it must be said, however, that the leather once landed in a pool of water. He played well at five-eighths, when he changed places with Phillips. Robilliard was fair, and he improved as the game went on, and at the finish was playing a dashing game. Fincham did not show as good form as in Christchurch, and he missed what looked a certain try by waiting for someone to pass to, when he could have got in himself. He also passed very wild at Byrne's display at centre was good, and his play was the outcome of some fine passing rushes. Phillips was hampered by liis opponents getting round sometimes, but he ?>layed fairly well both at five-eights and ull-back. In the latter place he did some good kicking. Cowper and Ormandy did good work, the former being more noticeable in the first halt than the second, while Ormandy was brilliant in the second spell, but he had a good man in Roddick against him. Bush played a good game in the forward division, coming through' the scrummage with the ball time after time. Fanning, Revell and Fraser were the most noticeable of the rest, but the forwards as a whole did not play as well together nor with such dash as usual.

Mr J. T. M. Hayhurst, the president of the South Canterbury Rugby Union, and Mr Arniitage, the energetic secretary, did nil in their power during the team's short stay at Temnka, to make them enjoy themselves, and thepresident proposed the health of the Canterbury team at dinner after the game.

A match played at Leeston on Saturday between a team from the Merivale Club aud Leeston, resulted in a win for the town team after a very close game by 8 points (a try and a goal) to 4 (a goal from a mark). The Leeston Club possess a fine team, but they lack the finer points of the game. With more experience .' cv might hold their own with any of our senior teams. They have a fine ground, which is certainly a credit to the place, and a hard working secretary (Mr Hoggj, who did his very best to make the outing enjoyable. Voyce, at lull-back for Merivale, played a meritorious game, his kicking being Very good. Low, wing threequarter, had not a great deal to do, but he exhibited some fine defensive work. McCree, in the centre, was very uncertain iv taking the ball, but he put in some fine kicks. Memries, on the other wing, was too well

watched to be dangerous. Forbes played well at five-eighths, his collaring being especially good. The veteran. Johnston, at half, played well, getting the ball away very quick. Of the forwards Duggan, Thomas, Drake, and Farquhar played well. For the losers Luun, at full-back, was very safe. Of the three-quarters Ballagh put in some splendid runs, and had he been well backed up a score would have resulted. He possesses a fair amount of pace, and would be a great acquisition to any club team. Heron, in the centre, got through a lot of work, and played a sterling game, being especially good on the defence. Fincham on the other wing, had very little to do, but lie made some fine kicks" J. Rennie, at five-eighths, was fair, while his brother at half played about the best game on the ground. He should develop into a first-class player. Of the forwards, who all played well, Lambie, Brown, and Graham were the pick, Lambie heing a sterling player. The Merivalc team were, entertained at dinner, by the Leeston Club, and a social evening, which proved a great success, was held, an enjoyable outing being brought to a close at about eleven o'clock with cheers for each team.

I notice that Alex. Downes, who in his day was one of the best three-quarter backs who ever played for Otago, took the position of full-back in the Otago Rugby Union's trial game in Dunedin on Saturday week.

An Invercargill writer, commenting on tiie match between Southland and Canterbury, remarks:—The result of the match is a repetition of what occurred in the season 1890. Southland beat Otago by 4 points to nil: Otago then defeated Canterbury by 9 points to 4: and on the Southland team playing the latter they were defeated by 6 points to 4.

The Leeston Club have a good record for the past season, as of the fourteen matches pl'u-cfl they won thirteen and only lost one.

Tho Queensland Rugby Union'invited Mr J. F. Maemnnamey, president of the New South Wales Referees' Association, to act in the recent intercolonial matches at Brisbane, but he refused as he could not spare the time to leave Sydney. After the first match, however, the New South Wales players were so dissatisfied with the referee that Mr Mncmanamey was asked to officiate in the second game, and he consented.