FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9089, 28 April 1890, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

The Canterbury Eugby union have placed at Messrs Davies and Lamb’s a notice board on which items relating to Club matches will be recorded. SATUBDAY’S MATCHES. SENIOR CLUBS. Senior matches for the Club championship were continued on Saturday. Chief interest was in the meeting between Canterbury College and Christchurch, which produced an excellently contested and exciting game, the latter winning by four points to three. Me rivals defeated Addington by four points to a point, while East Christchurch scored nineteen points against Christ’s College, Details: — CHEISTOHUECH v. CANTERBURY COLLEGE. The meeting of these teams was surrounded with much interest. A very large und—we notice the novelty with much pleasure—well-behaved gathering attended to watch the efforts of the players. Christchurch were, perhaps, most fancied; but a very fast and exceptionally interesting game quite proved the correctness of the general expectation that the junior team would prove worthy opponents to the wearers of the Bed ana Black. Though the latter claimed victory at the termination of the game, we have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that the scores do not represent the relative merits of the two fifteens so far as Saturday afternoon’s play is concerned. We think that the Christchurch men have every reason to be satisfied with the liberality of Dame Fortune. Eeferee, Eev J. Hoatson.

The College team quickly assumed an aggressive position and playing with much determination were rewarded with a try, secured by Jack close to the corner flag. Balche followed up this success by scoring offi a neat pass sent him by Creaswell. Neither of the attempts at goal was successful. The Reds journeyed dangerously close to the College line on two or three occasions, and Smart might have crossed it had he not attempted a pot. With the College two points to the good, the first spell ended. The Red men brightened up considerably after fifteen minutes of the second half had been played. During that time, however, Pitcaithiey had added another point to their total. Christchurch then kept the scene of the contest well confined to College territory, and Turton by magnificent kicks converted two penalty kicks into goals. The College lost an almost certain score owing to the ball going behind the ropes, and at the conclusion of the spell were in a minority of one point. Score—Christchurch four points. College three points. EAST CHRISTCHURCH V. CHEIST’S COLLEGE. This game ended in favour of the former by five goals four tries to nothing. The East Christchurch forwards wore far too heavy and strong for their opponents, and made repeated dribbling rushes which severely taxed the College back play. Now and again the Collegians, aided by magnificent kicking on. the part of Perry and Winter, invaded the Easterns’ portion of the field, and once in the first spell, were near kicking a goal from a penalty kick. The College forwards, for so light a body, played splendidly; but at times the collaring of the backs was weak, except on the part of Perry, who in all departments of the game showed sterling form. It was due to his grand collaring that numerous runs on the part of Hobbs Forbes and Thomson were cut short, and it may safely be said, after Saturday’s ordeal, that he is at present one of the best of our three-quarters. The game was open and fast, but the great weight of the Eastern forwards enabled them to break up their opponents, and although they played without much combination, they followed up smartly and dribbled splendidly. F. Hobbs, the full-back, had a good deal to do, and did it well, his long pnntiag being admirable. Tries were secured by A. Hobbs (3), Thomson, Hyman, Forbes, L. Ebert, Stevenson and A. Ebert, from which Hobbs kicked four goals and Hyman one. Mr J. P. Firth filled the position of Eeferee to'everjbody’s satisfaction.

MEEIVALE Y. ADDINGTON. This match was played at the North Park, and resulted, after a close and hardfought game, in a win for the Merivale men by two tries and a goal from a penally kick (four points) to one try (one point.) The game was a very tough one, although the Addington team was weakened considerably by the absence of Scrimgeour and Whiting. Their forwards, however, played splendidly, and more than held their own throughout against the Blues. Pearse’s (full-back for Merivale) fine play however, more than equalised this, and he went through bis task iu splendid style. Addington kicked off, and, by fast following up, their forwards kept the game in the Blues’ ground for some time. Larcombo bad a hurried bub resuitless pot, and Pearse was noticeable thus early for fine defensive work; but Atkinson’s good collaring principally kept the home team from getting out, until a nice Black dribble ended iu J. Hepburn getting over. Newcome took the kick, but missed. Score, one to nil . Soon afterwards a bad pass on the part of an Addington man was intercepted by Joe Horner, and he finished up a long run over the line, and as Pearse did nob convert the game was again even. Then the Blacks had a long time of attacking, and Pearse’s defence was sorely tried. He stood the test well, however, and good play by Cock resulted in a force to Merivale, soon to be followed by another through M'Gaire’s fast following-up, Pearae fumbled the last kick out, and Merivale were in a bit of trouble, until a good rush, in which the Horners, Evans, and Leach were conspicuous, was the means of giving Merivale a free kick within range, from which Pearce placed a splendid goal. Three to one. Half-time was called soon afterwards, with the ball in neutral ground. The second spell was very even, and consisted mostly of ** bullocking ” forward play. At the start Evans and M'Guire made a good rush, and Otley got over, without any lurcher result, however, as M'Guire did not convert. Pour to one. After a lot of uninteresting centre play, Evans got almost over, and a fine dodgy run of Pearee’s was only ended just at the line. Then followed a lot of hard, defensive work for Addington, in which Larcombe, Hoft, Atkinson and Clarke were conspicuous. At last the Black forwards, headed by Hepburn, the Knights, and Donaldson, broke through to the other end, where J. Hepburn had a long shot from a mark without result. Evans dashed hack from a line-out and was almost over, a couple of forces resulting, and time was called without any further score, and the ball in Merivale ground.

JUNIOR FLAG COMPETITION, The Merivale Second easily defeated the Addington Second by ten points to nil. White, the Merivale skipper, had a regular field day, obtaining two tries and potting a goal. Johnston secured a try, and Garrard succeeded in kicking two goals, both at difficult angles, Linwoodv. Canterbury College Second.— The winners of this game again turned up in the Linwood team, who are improving their play each Saturday. The score consisted of a goal from a penalty kick by Moses, and a try by Ormandy, after a slashing run, to nil. The College team played moat consistently throughout, but were not so good in the loose play as their opponents. Cookaon, Eoaaldo, and Bannister were the pick of their backs, aud Moses, Cox, and Ormandy wore the most prominent for the victors. Where all the forwards played well it is impossible to individualise, but wo were pleased to see J. Stapleton to the fore again for his old Club, after a lengthened absence from Christchurch.

East Christchurch Second v. Christchurch Second (B). —This match resulted in a win for the former by three trios to one try. The winners had all the best of the game from the start to the call of time.

their forwards carrying all the scrimmages. The Easterns’ play outclassed that of their opponents in every part of the game, and Cooper (one try), Atkinson (one), and Heyward (one) scored for the winners. Two of the tries were taken by Atkinson, and Heyward took the other, all of which were failures. Hobbs secured the try for the losers. Labatfc, Pavitt, Peter, and Smith played beat for Christchurch. Cambridge First met the Kaiapoi First on Saturday, and atter a good game came off winners by seven points to nothing. M'Kendry got over the Kaiapoi line twice, Shaw and Neileon placing two goals. Collins got a try, but the kick at goal was a failure. The following showed good form for Cambridge: Groig, Owens and Morrison; while for Kaiapoi, Uru (2), Mathews, Forrest and Scott were most conspicuous. Sydenham Eleven beat Christchurch (A) after a very pleasant game by seventeen, points to nil. Petrie (4), Reese (3), Thomson (2), Fordo (2), Purdham (2), scored tries, while Reese and Smith placed goals. Besides the above Ritchie and Dowding played well. The Christchurch played a good uphill game, but the passing of the backs and weight of their opponents forward proved too much for them. Watt, Broughton, Laurie, Johnston and Craig were the pick of the visitors. otheiTmatches. East Christchurch Third v. Kaiapoi Second, at Kaiapoi, resulted in a win for the East Christchurch Third by one point (one try) to nil, Hulbertsecuring the try. Linwood Second v. Canterbury College Third resulted in h win for the former by two points to one, after a hard-fought game. Izafcfc secured one try for the College, as did J. Gatherer and A. Lamb one try each for the winners. The Cambridge Second were to have met the Christchurch Third, but only six of Christchurch turned up; they therefore awarded the match to Cambridge. The return match between the High School first and Christ’s College second was won by the High School by two goals and seven tries to nil. The tries were obtained by Dawson (3). Hogg (3). Orchard, Orr, Pemberton, and Wilson. Williams, Naider and Todhunter played well for the College. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. Several more old Association players from the Old Country joined the ranks of the new Club during the week, and the second practice match on the U.C.C. ground on Saturday was even more lively and faster than the first, in spits of the summer weather. Without giving spectators anything like a perfect example of the points of the game, the play on Saturday was nevertheless a decided improvement on that of the week before. It is still unknown to a majority of the members that excess of individual zeal will not make up for quiet calculation of the chances of playing in combination and passing to someone in a better position to shoot a goal. A good instance of this was to be seen in the play of Hall and Turnbull. The two formed a capital combination on the right wing of the Whites, but lost several opportunities of scoring through too hasty play when they had beaten the defence of the opposing halves. The same fault, indeed, ran through the whole of the play. There was not enough centring on the part of the forwards, and the half-backs were too prone to return the ball straight to the opposing backs, instead of giving their own men in good positions a chance.when possible. Association is essentially the game of unselfish play and calculation; an eleven must work as a whole perhaps more than in cricket, and far moie than a fifteen in Sagby Union, to be thoroughly successful. Until all the members of the new Club realise this they cannot expect the game to become popular with the public, however much they may enjoy it themselves, for it is just in this direction that lie its peculiar merits.

To come to the game. Moss captained the Whites and Maude the Colours. During the first spell the combined attack of Hall and Turnbull on the right wing and Rolleston in the centre was rather too much for the Colours. Two goals fell to them to one by the Colours, and, as stated above, they would have secured more had their shooting at goal been better. Moss, Watt and Harper did good service among the backs (White) all through the game. In the second spell Maude moved G. Rhodes and Rutherford across to keep the way against the successful combination, and matters were equalised and the Colours secured two goals. In this spell G. Rhodes, Rutherford, Coglan and Gifford played a hard forward game for the Colours, though too unmindful of passing, while the Club seem to have secured the very man for goal-keeper* for their Dunedin match in Simpson. Taylor's smart work in clearing more than once saved the Whites from disaster.

Witb regard to tbe match with Dunedin on the Queen’s Birthday, though it is not definitely decided on, such an encouraging reply has been received from the Ocago men that there is little likelihood of its falling through. Practice games in anticipation will, at all events, be held on Tuesday and Thursday, and members who will play are requested to send in their names to Mr T. Maude.