FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 140, 24 June 1901, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

NELSON V. CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ‘Christchurch, Saturday. Nelson played Canterbury at Lancaster Park to-day. The visitors were outclassed both in the back and forward divisions, and although the home team played without much combination in cither department, they won easily by 27 points to nothing. Halliday and Gordon scored tries in the first spell, but neither try -was converted. In the second half Menzies (2), Backwell, Rico and Drako scored tries, three of which were converted by Drake.

HAITI v. CITY. [By “ The Whistle.”] Haiti 14, City 0. Bitterly cold weather, with a strong' southerly wind, accompanied by frequent heavy showers of rain, and as a natural result a wet ground and a greasy ball, are conditions not at all conducive to a good display of Rugby footboll; yet these were the conditions which prevailed on Saturday afternoon last, when the Haiti and City fifteens resumed the contest for the Poverty Bay Rugby. Union Senior Banner. As was only natural, there was but a moderate attendance of spectators, and it speaks volumes for the popularity in which the great winter pastime is held that there wore several ladies courageous enough to brave the elements in order to witness the match.

City were unfortunate in bciug deprived of the services of a number of their best men, some having gone to see the Duke, while others had gone up country ; and when the team took the field, it only consisted of eleven players. Considering the fact that the City juniors forfeited their match to the Hum-boys, which was to have been played on No. 2 ground, it says little for the management of the City Club that but eleven men could be found to take the field at tho commencement of this match. Brown and Newton were absent from tho Haiti forwards, but a couple of able substitutes were found in Hansen and Cleary. With these exceptions, the team was the samo as that which represented this Club in its last two matches.

Two spells of 35 minutes each wero played, and the game was controlled by Mr W. S. McCredic, while Messrs A. W. Rees and C. Taylor were tho touchjudges. Duggan won tho toss, and McKellar kicked off for Haiti against a strong wind. The opening passages of tho game were not of a scientific nature. The men appeared cold and stiff, and seemed incapable of taking the greasy ball. The play for the greater part consisted of scrambling rushes. The scrums were badly formed, and when the ball did happen to come out, the backs lacked combination of any kind. What little passing was indulged in was of the wildest possiblo nature, and the men threw tho ball anywhere, while a great deal of fumbling was done.

City made the game a forward one, and had rather the best of the opening part of the spoil, aided by the wind. Rees Jones, Quinn, Webb, Steele, and Paltridgc worked hard in the City pack, and, had they kept the ball on tho ground more, instead of attempting to pick up so frequently, would have had a more successful record. Jones, in particular, playod his best gamo of tho season, and several times, after failing .to hook the ball, came right through the scrum after it. Morse was about the best of the City backs, and did a lot of useful work. His defensive work was particularly sound, Duggan is not a success as a back, and his services were lost to his side on Saturday. " Ho did some fine punting though, and is Certainly the best exponent of this kind of'W6rk wo have. He should, however, find the line oftener. Several of his best kicks simply forced Haiti, and consequently were of no service to his side. Duggan also gave an exhibition of placekicking from penalties, and made some good shots. Tho over-eagerness of one or two of the Haiti forwards caused half-a-dozen penalties to be inflicted on their side within the space of a quarter-of-an hour. Towards the. close of the spell, Haiti gave City a warm time, and Halbei t, Eaton, and McKellar, each crossed tho line] but either lost the ball or were called hack for some infringement. Albert Robinson, M. Murphy, Colebourne, Eaton, and Bright wore bearing the heat and burden of the forward work, but the backs lacked combination. Ryan called up a cheer by standing Porter on his head when everyone thought he was in, and a few minutes later Kirk secured possession in front of tho goal, and made a hurdle of the full-back, falling on the ball between the posts, and sooring a brilliant try. Ngatai had no difficulty in ■ registering the major points. There was no further score in the first spell. On changing ends, everyone predicted that Haiti would pile up a big score with the wind behind them ; but City, who had received some reinforcement, invaded Haiti territory immediately after the kickoff, and stayed there for some time. Kirk, however, shifted the scene of operations from one end of the ground to tho other with a long kick, which he followed up, and the City full-back, in attempting to return, kicked the ball against him, and some exciting play took place on the City line. Shortly afterwards, from a line-out, J. Murphy appeared to knock on, but secured possession again, and orossed the line, and was awarded a try. Ngatai failed with the kick at goal. The game, at this stage, though faster than in the first spell, was no more scientific as a display of football. Eaton was conspicuous for "clever foot work among the Haiti forwards, while Burns, at threequarter for City, did some grand collaring. Some passing between M. Murphy, Halbert, J. Murphy, and Kirk was spoilt by the latter mulling, but Reynolds snapped up tho ball, and crossed tho line with a strong run, amid applause, being only prevented from getting right behind tho posts by Morse. Ngatai kicked a poster. Shortly before the close of the game, Eaton sent the ball out to Halbert, and the latter transferred to Kirk, who made a clever, dodgy run up the line, and scored his second try in a good position, Ngatai sent the ball over the post again, and the game ended in favor of Haiti by 14 points (a goal from a try and three tries) to nil. The conditions prevailing made it out of the question to expect a good display, and none of the backs were seen to advantage. It is almost as necessary for a | team to know how to handlo a wet ball as a dry one, as teams cannot always expect to play matches in fine weather, and Saturday's display gave one the impression that local men would not appear to advantage in a big match on a wet ground.