FOOTBALL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2482, 24 May 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

CLYDE 6 v. BANNOCKBURN 0.

The first flag match of the season between the above clubs was played at Bannockburn on Saturday. The weather was fine, and the ground was in good order. There was a fair crowd of spectators a large proportion being ladies. The visitors lost the toss, and played with the sun in their eyes and up-hill in the first spell. Even play followed the kick off. A free kick to Bannockburn saw play in the visitors 25, hut a line dribble by Crawford transferred play right to the other end of the ground. From the line out the ball was kicked too hard, and Bannockburn sought relief by forcing. Clyde returned to the , -attack, but good forward play saw the home team shift the scene of operations to raid-field. A good kick by Spain saw Bannockburn again defending their line. From a lineout just inside the 25, Joe Davidson secured, and after beating two men scored. The kick at goal, though a good attempt, did not add to the score. This reverse livened up the home team, and Parcell and O’Connor took the ball almost to the visitors line, where play remained for some time. From a loose scrum. Gye secured, and witn a good kick shifted play to half way. Bannockburn continued to press, but sate kicking by Allan and C. Davidson kept them back, and the first spell ended without further score.

On changing ends, Clyde immediately became aggresive, a centre kick l;y C. Davidson, putting the home team’s line in danger. For the greater part of this spell play was practically confined to Bannockburn’s quarters. Shortly after the start from a dribble Gye and Davidson carried the ball over the line, but in endeavoring to secure the leather collided, and both were knockcd-out for nine minutes. Bannockburn a little later made a determined forward rush, which was well stopped by Cecil Davidson. A good passing rush by the visitors hacks was spoilt by Smart knocking-ou within a few feet of the line. Shortly after this from a loose rush Joe Davidson secured and sent the ball out to Spain that player beating his man and scoring. C. Davidson made a poor attempt to convert. ibe Bannockburn forwards made another determined rush, but the defence was too sure, aad the leather was in mid-field when the whistle sounded noside, tho game ended in Clyde’s favor by tl to nil.

As an exposition of football the game was not bad for an opening match. It was fast from start to finish, but there was a lack of combination. The Bannockburn forwards are a very fine lot, and they showed much bettor combination than the visitors. The home team’s backs were good on defence, but they failed to take advantage of several good opportunities to ttltftck For*the visitors, G. Young, Davidson and Crawford were the pick of the forwards, while the backs all played well, Armstrong being particularly good. For Bannockburn, of a line lot of forwards O’Connor was the most prominent, while Parcell, Dcnnelly aud the veteran Bobby Bobertson were the pick of the backs. Mr J. Swann, who controlled the game gave general satisfaction.’