FOOTBALL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9092, 1 May 1890, Page 3

FOOTBALL NOTES.

The defeat of the East Christchurch Club on Saturday was totally unexpected by the general run of footballers, an un-looked-for pleasure by followers of the Christchurch Club, and a sad taking down for the friends of the Yellow and Black. There was no fluke attached to the win, for the match was fairly fought and fairly won; and although Christchurch did not have a very great deal the best of the play, still they were the attacking body for a part of the first spell and a considerable portion of the second. How their score ultimately did not reach fourteen instead of four points is rather a mystery, and can only be ascribed to the work done by Thomson and Hobbs. The Bast Christchurch team went on to the field overflowing with confidence, and quite unprepared for the reception they got, especially from the opposing forwards, who were together from the start, and gave their heavier adversaries not a moment’s spell. The Christchurch forwards received splendid assistance from the backs, who, right through the game, showed us accurate and consistent passing, determined running, safe kicking, and fine tackling. We have never seen the Christchurch backs play such a game, and their display on Saturday proves that they are endeavouring to base their system on that introduced to us by the Englishmen, and shown to us later on by the Native team. Wilson was the central figure ou Saturday, and his absence at any time, means we think, the collapse of the Christchurch back play. At times ho proved altogether too much for Hobbs, and showed the latter in rather an unfavourable light. Morton and Wilkinson both played a conspicuous game, while Turton in goal was a reliable full-back. Smart was the best half-back, his passing from the scrimmage being a noticeable feature in his play. Smart has a nasty habit of picking the ball out of the scrimmage, and, though on Saturday the Eeferee dealt with him leniently, it is not to say that he will always escape so easily. We should, therefore, advise him to drop the habit, or it may one of these days prove expensive to his side. The forwards are a nicely balanced lot, without individual excellence. They play hard and fast, dribble well, collar well, and follow up smartly. At present they are in very good condition, and will take a lot of beating, though teams like Canterbury College and Sydenham may crush them by sheer weight. The East Christchurch forwards failed most miserably to uphold the reputation they gained after their performance against Poneke. They underrated their opponents and fell as a consequence. The fast play paralysed them at time, and after the first half hour they were a disorganised mob. They were shoved about in the tight scrimmages, and beaten in the loose work; The disorganised state of the forwards spoilt the half - backs, who could do little. The bulk of the work at three-quarter fell upon Hobbs, who was the mainstay of the team. Certainly Wilson, as we stated above, outplayed him at times, but this was scarcely to be wondered at under the circumstances considering how poorly Hobbs was supported. On several occasions be intercepted passes, and made grand openings that might have been serious for Christchurch if he had been supported, hut there was no hacking up, as between him and his nearest Club mate was always to be found a body of opponents. Thomson did his work with coolness and neatness, _ and proved his right to be regarded as a rising young player. The Laes were unreliable, and showed want of practice. The Christ’s College boys never had a reasonable show against their older and stronger opponents, the Addington fitteen. The latter, even allowing for the weak opposition placed before them, played in very fair form, and have evidently received some instruction in the finer points of the game, for wo noticed that they did not practise “bullocking and so forth to such an extent as they did last season. We thought one of the AddicgWa.half’Mcks guiltyof someiowsA.

play afc limes. For instance, when a forward who had secured the ball from a throw in from touch passed it quickly back to him he invariably endeavoured to punt up the field, the only'result achieved being a punt into touch at about the'same point from where the ball had just been thrown in. Now had this half - back simply passed the leather on to his centre three-quarter, who was in an excellent position to . get away, or who might have transferred to the outside three-quarter, much might, have been gained. But* the tactics adopted simply meant no gain of ground, but slow touCbline play. This should be remedied at once. It is ridiculous to see threequarters standing idle, while a ‘ half-back amuses himself in this way. The College forwards follow up and dribble very nicely, but they want weight. The backs do not meat the ball. They wait for it, and with, ib the opposing forwards generally come. The full-back was particularly guilty in this respect. Cambridge secured a victory over Oxford on Feb 22, ia the annual Association match, the margin being three goals to one, hut the dark blues rendered such a good account of themselves that a quarter of an hour from the close they held a lead of one goal to none. The Cantabs then played up much better, and scored thrice in quick succession. Of the seventeen matches Cambridge have won eleven to Oxford’s five, with one drawn game. The thirteenth contest, under Eugby Union rules, between the representatives of Scotland and Ireland, which was down for decision on Feb. IS, but had to be postponed on account of the frost, came off at Raeburn-place, Edinburgh, on Feb. 22, ia the presence of a very largo attendance, and resulted in a victory for Scotland by a goal and a try to nil. A keenly-contested game was witnessed at Dublin on March 1 in the International Rugby match between Ireland and Wales, and at the finish neither side could claim a victory, each being credited with a goal. The Irishmen had decidedly the best of the game, and it was only just before the finish that the W elshmen managed to equalise.

For the first time since the match at Blackheath in 18S3-4, vhieh caused so much trouble, England has beaten Scotland at Rugby football, as in spite of the absence of Stoddart, the Englishmen ‘won their fixture at Raeburn-place, Edinburgh, on March I, by a goal (placed by Jowett from a try by Dyson) and a try (Evershed) to nil. About ten thousand persons witnessed the match, a large proportion being Yorkshiremen. The record now stands - England seven wins, Scotland three, with seven drawn games.