INTERCOLONIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 6730, 22 September 1882, Page 5

INTERCOLONIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

BTEW SOUTH WALES j, CANTERBURY. Another big football matoh, and another defeat I For a eeoond time in the same seaeon the Canterbury Busby Union has had to lower ite colours. XTp to lait year, our scarlet and black had not ,eb often been associated with defeat at with victory. During the last twelve month*, however, the tide seems to have taken a thoroughly wrong turn. Thrice •we hare been beaten } twice very unluckily i once most disgracefully. ■ Yet, though yesterday’s play resulted in placing the third defeat on the lint, there was nothing of disgrace to be connected with >t. The match was so far from being onesided that the advantage mostly lay during its progress with the losers. We have, indeed, very rarely seen a good team so thoroughly E e ° n *d as wore the Sydney men in the latter ilfofth# match. Afc tno Terr commence* “°nt ,°f the game it certainly looked as though they were giing to run round our ™cn. Iheir backs at once showed of what stuff they were made, and also the advantages given by practice and thorough self-oonfi-denoc. But all their scoring was done in the first five and twenty minutes. So sooner were the chances of the Canterbury men rendered apparently hopeless, than they one and all began to show that they really knew how to play. The forward*, led by Million and ploying, it may be mentioned, without Potts and Helmore, whose places were filled by Wachsmann and O’Donnell, worked like horses to save the match, while Anderson and Dee, the former by his capital running and collaring, the latter by some good kicking, did much to wipe away thereproaoh.tbat has so long been affixed to Canterbury back play, Perhaps, it would be injustice to Anderson to join'Lee’s name or that of anyone else with hie oh equal terms, £oP| indeed, he was the hero of the game* Fligg, of Sydney, showed quite as good, it may possibly be better, play, but then he -was playing » winning game, while Anderson wa* struggling against hie third'Successive defeat. Fligg, too, was playmg with men beside and: behind, him upon whom he could thoroughly rely, while, without wishing to be in any way hard on the Canterbury backs, it; was only too*apparent that neither their comrades nor any one else could rely with any feeling of security upon their doing their work with effect. This, at all events, was the case in the earlier part of the game., Later on the backs shared in the improvement shown by tbs Canterbury team all round. Of the forward* we may honestly eay that from first to last they played in such sturdy, fashion as to make the spectators thoroughly proud of them. They showed a most creditable mastery over their newly<adopted dribbling game, which spoke well both for the excellence of that style of play and for their own capacity to loam it. They were at unquestionably better than the Sydney forwards, as the Australian backs were superior to purs. With the improvement that may reasonably be eipeotedfrom another season’* dribbling practice, tfaey need have nothing to fear even from the redoubtable Otago men. At for the Sydney team it will be sufficient to add of them that in playing they used not only their hand* and feet bat their brains also, and pot only individually well hut well together, and with the best effect. Baper keeps his men in band, and allow* no playing for show. As a result there wae little peculiarly brilliant to remark, except some passing back, in which the captain, Fligg, and. Bay lies were principally concerned, and one or two. particularly fine rune by the game men and Walker. Their drop-kicking was safe enough, but anything butextraordinary. They hardly ever attempted that most useful kick the punt,, and their dribbling wa* not to. be compared to dure.. On the other hand,. their collaring, backing-up and.passing were just as good as ours were bad, and their backs, if they did not make astounding kicks, did not allow themselves to be flurried or rushed. Ihken altogether, they now make a fine, serviceable team, which would take a deal of beating anywhdre. They happen,"however, to be going to exactly the right place, for that. They may thrash Ctago; on the other hand, Otago may thrash them, but, good as they are, they will, we rather fancy, find the Southerners yet a little better.

Play commenced for a wonder punctually at three o'plook. As a result many intending onlookers missed the first quarter of an hour's play. Upon this fact, however, they were, if patriotic citizens, rather to be congratulated than otherwise, for anything more heart* breaking than the fashion in which the match was thrown away at the outset it would be difficult to conceive. Later on the green terraces of Lancaster Park were partly covered by Some three thousand spectators. The breeze blew steadily as the afternoon wore on, but being from the north-west was merely fresh, not cold, and aS there was little sun the spectators were neither frozen not scorched as they usually are at our athletic or sporting meetings. Of the conduct of the crowd, all that need be said is that they kept up the good name of Canterbury gatherings for order and impartiality. 'Eager as they were for the reds to win, they cheered, Fligg. ThalJon, Walker and Co. to the echo, and even towards the finish when the adverse decisions of the umpires again and again disappointed Canterbury’s hopes, no outward sign was given of anger or disapproval,

Million won the toss and elected to play against the wind and sun during the " first half of/the'game, which was divided into two spells of forty-five minutes each. Sydney, therefore, kicked off, and though the return was not particularly good, the play was pretty even for a few minutes. Then, all of a sudden, the match was practically lost. The Sydney men getting the best of a loose scrimmage burst through the Canterbury forwards. Then should hare been the time for our backs to stop the rush. They did nothing of the kind, however, and seemed able neither to hold ball nor men, and two or three of the blues following up smartly drove the ball through the posts, right under which Hill gained a touch down, To Thallen was entrusted the kick. It could hardly have been missed, but he left no doubt about the goal, the ball flying: true and low over the rope's centre. After the kick off the reds worked hard, but the advantage was atill for a while with the visitors, among whom Pligg and Bayliss (half-backs), Paper (quarter-back), and Walker (full-back), were all conspicuous. Baper, the captain, gol dangerously near the red goal, but Anderson, whose excellent collaring even now began to show his comrades how to play, brought him prettily to grass. Then the ball went steadily westward along the southern boundary, the Canterbury dribblers doing good work, and no sooner did it get well westward than a particularly fine run by Bayliss tookit back again. Again worked painfully up, it.at last approached the Sydney goal only to afford Walker a chance of showing that he could kick, and shortly after occurred a second disaster, Kigg made a long run,| passing everyone except leach. The Ashley man went at him straight and . low, but though he checked him he could not keep him. The ball was passed to one of the Sydney men, who were backing up as usual, and Thallon secured another touch-down fairly close to the goal.

The try wae a failure, and Canterbury, fairly desperate at last, really began to buckle to. Henceforth the forwards showed more good play, and 'the backs less bad. Millton and Senwiok, always on the ball, were ably supported by Harman, Waohsmsnn, and others, while Anderson seemed to be pretty well everywhere, where collaring wae to be done, and about this time distinguished himself by pinning two Sydney men in rapid succession. At length the ball reached the Sydney touoh-line, and both sides strained their utmost. Farr might have got in once, but he ran to the left of the scrimmage instead 6f the right. Anderson, too, was only stopped within a few feet of the coveted line, and Lee got right upon it, but wae thrown and dropped the ball Sydney forced it down, and there wae am end of the first spell. ' Millton etarted the second by lifting the ball clear over the goal rope by way of a kick

off, and his men from that moment played u well as could be wished. During the whole •pell the bell was kept well in < the Sydney quartern, and did not onee pus the hslf-dis-tanoe flag. Four time* it crossed the Sydney touch-line in the hand* of a red runner,<bnt the umpires diiallowed three of the triei on appeal, -and on the fourth oocaeion the touch (obtained by Anderson) was hopelessly near the corner-post. On another occasion Lee, by a long drop, kicked what the crowd thought sP a> a goal, but this, too, was decided to be no score. Lee also kicked the ball under the rope, and. half-a-dozen times the visitors were forced down, so that it will be seen tlat . J thwr work oat out to keep their lead. They managed to do this principally by using their wits, for they kept admirably cool, and not only played with heaps of spirit up to the last, but lost no opportunity of ohallenging any advantage made by their opponents. Of some fifteen or eighteen appeals to the umpires made during this spell, nearly all teemed to prooeed from them, and nearly all were decided in their favour.* This may prove that the local men constantly broke the rules, or that the visitors had a lawyer or two amongst them j or, again, that umpires, like other men, sometimes make mistakes. A mere onlooker cannot, of course, pretend to decide on the point. ,At the conclusion of the play, the usual cheers were exchanged between the teams, and the Sydney men left the ground winners, py • f and » try against a try only, of their fourth match m New Zealand. IHE DINNER. ~ ■^ l ® Canterbury Bugby Union entertained the New South Wales Football Team at dinner last evening at Arenas* Cafe Frangait. About 70 sat down to the table, the chair being occupied by Mr John Anderson, iunr., who had on his right Mr Baper, captain of the New South Wales team, and on his left Mr Millton, captain of the Canterbury team. The vioo-ohairs were occupied by His Worship the Mayor, Mr M. Lewin, Secretary to the Bugby Union, and Mr A. M Ollivier. After •dinner, which was worthy the reputation of the host, the following toasts were drunk. „The Chairman proposed “The Queen and Boyal Family." . The toast was loyally drunk.

■ ®te Chairman next proposed the toast of the evening “Health and success to the New South Wales Football Team.” (Enthusiastic cheers.) It was exceedingly gratifying to have _ any football team'. visiting ns, but especially so to have such good players come from so great.a distance as Sydney. (Cheers.) As an old football player he Could say that he had that day learnt a lesson. It would be, perhaps, out of place to say more than to tell the visitors that they were most heartily welcome. (Cheers:) He proposed the toast, coupled with the name of Ur Baper, Captain of the New South Wales team. (Cheers ) The toast was drunk with musical , honours and enthusiastic cheering. -i r Mr Baper, who on rising was greeted with renewed cheering, which tested for some time, was sure that his team oonld have no other feeling than extreme gratification and pleasure at the way the toast had heen honoured. (Applause.) It was quite in keeping with the remarkably good treatment and hospitality they had received throughout New Zealand. Every man had vied with every other in making things agreeable to them. It showed that the people "of New Zealand appreciated manly sport. They had come from a great distance, and had tried to play a good, honest game. (Applause.) They oonld make no return for the hospitality received, other than by expressing a hope to meet a New Zealand team in Sydney next season. (Applause.) In return for all the good treatment' the team had met with, he could promise the New Zealand people as good a time in Sydney as ever they had anywhere. Not only footballers, but the New South Wales people would do their best to .render the New* 7 Zealanders’ trip a pleasant one. (Applause.) Everyone who knew anything about such matters would know the . difficulty that was experienced in organising a team even for a short trip. It would readily be understood that the difficulty would lie still greater in getting a team to come such a.distance as to New Zealand. At the beginning of this season they had determined to come if they could get 17 men. Up to the last moment there were 17 men (and that did not give the best team that could be got), but eventually only 16 men could be got. One of these had had to return, and the remainder of the trip would have to be with only 15. That trip had been a most enjoyable one. (Cheers.) He would like to refer to a thing that did not seem to be thoroughly understood. ' The impression in New Zealand was that the team intended to pay their expenses and pocket the surplus. The fact was that the gate money was to pay their expenses in the first place, and any surplus was to go to the Union, and to be given towards the expenses of a team for next year. (Applause.) He would once more thank those present for the manner in which the toast had been received. (Applause.) ;Mr Baper proposed “The Canterbury Team." It was to him and bis men the most important toast of the evening. He wanted the members of bis team to fill bumpers and drink the health of the Canterbury Team. (Applause.) The game that day had been an exceedingly good one, played with good spirit and in proper football style. A very pleasing thing to the Sydney men was that it had been remarked by those who could speak with authority on the subject that it was one of the best football games they had seen in New Zealand. This was the more creditable to the local team because, till the last week or two, they had played the old packed-scrim-mage game, .and not tne fast game they, in New South Wales, were accustomed to. If they went bn as they hod begun, they would give the New South Wales men a tough task when they visited Sydney. (Applause.) He hoped he would not be considered impertinent if he said that there should be one Union for the whole of New Zealand, and that delegates from the branches established in each Provincial centre should be , sent to the Union. Such a unanimity would tend to greatly improve football in New Zealand. He had had much experience as a skipper, and be must say he would never ask to play against a fairer skipper or a nicer fellow than Mr Million—(Applause) who had tried his best to play a fair, honest game. They were all obliged to the Canterbury team for giving them such a capital game. (Applause.) He gave the toast of “ The Canterbury Team," coupled with the name of Mr Million, their skipper. The. toast was drunk with three times three and “ one cheer more for the skipper."

Mr Minton, who on rising was loudly cheered, could not thank Mr liaper too much nor the New South Wales team too much for the toast which had just been drunk. (ApSlause). The game of that day was the best e had ever seen. It was just what a Busty game should be. There had been no exhibition of brute strength which had brought football into disrepute here. No one who had witnessed the game of that day oould have found fault with it. It must have been a most exciting one spec* tators, as up to the last moment there was a chance of the scale being turned. There had been none of those tight packed scrimmages, which oould be of no interest to the onlookers. The licking that Canterbury had had in Otago, had been a good lesson. (Applause.) He thought Mr Baperwas quite right in bis suggestion as to a Union for the whole of the Colony, but he was almost afraid that it would be some years before such a Union oould be accomplished. (Applause.) Ae for the trip to New South Wales he sincerely trusted that it would come off, but there would be great difficulty in getting a combined team. Ho must say that lie trusted he might manage to get over, if only as an emergency man. The trip would certainly be a successful and pleasant one. (Applause.) He was- sorry that they had been unable to give a more hearty reception to their visitors than they had done (no), but he had explained to Mr Raper and his team the cause of this. (Applause.) He wished the-team every success. (Applause.): He did not mean to say that he waned them 'to. beat the Dunedin fellows, who had treated the Canterbury men uncommonly well. (Applause.) One thing in thy gamy of the

b l ai ?. e ’ and that WM the over *£ klDg of hi » m en. This was averv the last spell if they had only held their they ,> d been told 3 to do. He toto" them' for “pitching into them, but they deserved it fAn. t 0 ftbe matoh > he thought they had had rather hard luck in not havfns made a tie of it. He must compliment the t £* en n . obl y backed «P b 7 the fdllows behind the scrimmage. He once more thanked the visitors for the kind thoy had drnDk thetcaßt * <t . Midto . n Prop°«ed the next toast*n«by Un,o “ Fflotba U-” Most Of those present were thorough supporters of the f * ™ th ° De or two exceptions from the other side, thought it was the best stylo w«i a yV ( f PP i auM ' ) Be h °P ed that - “ New Zealand at any rate, no other game would be played. His experience was that the game had made him more friends than anything else m the course of his life. After such a game as that of that day, they must feel a respect and kindly feeling towards their antagonists. The games they had naa with Danedia bad caused provincial t( lu « reat result t 0 tb o “ d in H ’ wS “""‘ The toast was drunk with loud cheers. Mr Richmond was sure that all who came be « lad t 0 find that ruses of football here were the same as at Home. He had always been a great admirer ° f ga s®' J A PP lau «e )He was happy to say that the Bugby Union was established in Queensland. Ho did not see why a team of footballers should not be sent over to the Old Country, or a team come over from there. As they hsd been victorious in cricket, he hoped that a national match at football would be equally successful. Perhaps next season they might hear something on this subject that would astonish them. (Applause.) He wished every success to the Bugby Union. (Applause.) . Hjb Worship the Mayor proposed “The Umpires.” They would all agree that the umpires had performed a difficult duty thoroughly well. (Hear.) The game of that day, he behoved, had given satisfaction to both sides—(cheers)—and the lookers-on hid emoyed it immensely. (Applause.) He took that opportunity of thanking them for giving him the pleasure of meeting their Australian friends. (Applause.) He trusted this visit would go far to establish here the manly game of football. (Applause.) He prophesied that when a Now Zealand team visited Sydney, they would give the New South Wales men a good defeat. (Applause.) Ho coupled the toast with the name of Mr Parker. (Loud applause.) The toast was drank with three times three. Mr Parker thought Mr Lewin ought to have responded to the tout, but as that gentleman was very bishful, he would thank them for the hearty manner in which the toast had been received. He must say that though some little squabbles had occurred towards the end of the game, one side was as bad as the other. (Applause.) He thanked those who had played for the manner in which they had obeyed the decisions of the umpires. He hoped that next time the teams met: the Canterbury men might get the best of it. (Applause.) Mr Lewin briefly responded, and concluded a humorous speech by proposing “ Kindred Sports,” “The Ladies ” and “The Press.” The toasts were duly honoured. Mr Millton proposed “ Our Host,” The tout wu drunk enthusiastically, and acknowledged by Ur Arenas. Between the touts some excellent songs were sung by members of the party, and ” Auld Lang Syne ” brought the evening to a close. Before the party separated, it was resolved • that all present should be at the railway station this morning to bid “ God speed ” to the New South Wales team.