FOOTBALL NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1036, 8 June 1894, Page 6

FOOTBALL NOTES.

♦ (By Red-and- White.)

CLUTHA V. KAITANGATA. The match between the above clubs here on Saturday proved very interesting, and & large number of spectators witnessed the play. The teams lined out as follows : — Clutha (red and white):— Backs : R. Stewart, W. Grant, F. Tyson, P. Mason, W. Finn, W. Pennycook, J. Flerr.ing. Forwards : A. Bain, Hay- Mackenzie, R. Lattimer, R. Hawker, F. Joseph, J. Wylie, C. Seivwright, J. Black. Kaitangata (blue with red belt) : Backs i Frazer, Dunne, Dr Fitzgerald, M. Catson, Dr Thomson, Jarvie. Forwards : Tarr, Duncan (2), J. Welsh, Meehan, Paget, J. M'Donald, L. Stewart and J. Meechan. Dr Thomson captained the visitors, and won the toss against the Clutha skipper, Alex. Bain, taking the defence of the western goal. Clutha kicked off, and give-and-take play resulted amongst the forwards. From a scrum in the centre the ball was brought out well on the Clutha side, and a £ood passing run resulted, landing Kaitangata in difficulties. Soon after Black got. over the line with what looked like a try, the referee, however, considering a maul-in-goal had been effected, ordered a fiveyards scrum. Gradually the Kaitangata forwards worked the ball clear of their line, when Finn essayed to place from a penalty kick, but failed. Clutha, after pressing Kaitangata hard, succeeded in registering a try against them, Bain going over their line and grounding in a good position. Finn failed to increase by the kick. Clutha 3 ; Kaitancata nil. Some , very pood play amongst the Olutha^backs gave Kaitangata some lively work, Wylie ! eventually scoring. Black took the kick but failed. Score — Clutha 6; Kaitangata nil. A good run by Fitzgerald took the leather into Clutha's twenty-five before he was stopped by Pennycook, the former unfortunately having his shoulder hurt, which partially disabled him. Black broke away from the line and succeeded in getting well up into Kaitangata ground. Half-time was called shortly after. On resuming some very tight work in the forward division was witnessed, but Clutha secured from a scrum, and a passing run ended by Finn going over near the touch-line, Pennycook failing to enhance. Score, 9 points— nil. Thomson, who was putting in a lot of good work for Kaitangata, got away and looked dangerous when brought down by Tyson. P. Mason responded with another run which brought the leather back, and Grant was nearly over but Inst the ball. From a scrum near the line Pennycook secured, sending the leather on to Finn, who in turn passed to Tyson, the latter scoring near the posts. Taking the kick himself he placed the only goal of the day. Score, 14 — nil. A good run by Carson had Clutha down, and a slip by Fleming — who was playing a splendid game — gave Fitzgerald a mark in front, from which Thomson failed to place u goal. Bain, Mackenzie, and Wylie were putting in some good line-out play here, and the first-named broke away several times. Pennycook got two marks in quick succession, and play shifted intn Kaitangata territory again, and Finn, after a smart piece of play, gi-ounded tbe ball behind the post?. Bain took the kick, but failed. Shortly aftewardathe whistle blew, scores being Clutha, 17 points ; Kaitangata, nil. Stewart, the Clutha full back, had little or nothing to do — had the ball twice, I think, — so no opinion could be formed of his merits. Tyson was certainly the best of the three-quarters ; Mason was not inclined to pass, and Grant mulled a lot, though he got his man in collaring. The three half-back game came off well in the scrum work, Fleming and Finn — who, I may safely say, never played better and left nothing to be desired — on the wings smothering any attempt at passing on the opposing side, while Pennycook confined his attention to getting the ball smartly away from the scrum. The forwards all played well, but I think were rather besUd on the line, perhaps owing to the lengthinees of some of their opponents. Bain, both as a skipper and a player, was all that could be desired, and played a rattling game right through. Wylie and Mackenzie, although not doing much Bhowy play, worked exceedingly hard. Seivwright, Hawker, and L&ttimer came away well on the loose work, although the latter did not show anything like his accustomed form ; Joseph did some good work but has played much better in the Saturday practices. Black certainly in my opinion was the best forward on the ground ; his following up and tackling was first-class, while he seemed to have a hand in every passing run of the day. Kaitangata had a mainstay in Thomson, but gave him too much to do. Meehan and Stewart on the line gave Clutha some trouble, while Tarr and Duncan worked hard in the scrums ; John Duncan, however, was the pick and the mainstay of the forwards. The backs had nothing in the way of attack to do, but their defence was good. On the whole, I tkink that although the Clutha men certainly won by superior skill and combination, the Kaitangata team will make much better stand in the return match. Dr Thomson has got men of the proper stamp under him, and his experience ought to make a really first-class team of them. Mr Simpson acted efficiently as referee, and Messrs Finn (Clutha) and Raynes (Kaitangata) as line judges. After the match the visitors were entertained by the Chitha team at Mr Coghlan's Crown Hotel, where an excellent dinner was provided. Mr D. T. Fleming (vice-president of the local club) proposed the health of the Kaitangata Club, and hoped that in* next mateh Kaitancata played they would be more successful. The toast was drunk with musical honors. Dr Thomson in reply referred to the difficulty of getting proper practice, and proposed the health of the Clutha Club, which was responded to by Mr Pennyceok. Dr Fitzgerald proposed " Outside clubs," coupled with the name of Mr Garforth , (Clinton), who responded. The " Host and Hostess " was proposed by Mr Raynes. After a number of songs were sung by gentlemen present the Kaitangata team left for home, evidently pleased with the treatment received.