FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10924, 6 April 1896, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. Despite bad weather and wet grounds, no fewer than five visiting teams played matches in Christchurch against local fifteens on Saturday. The visitors won four of the five matches, and considering the surrounding conditions and the youth of the season, some good play was shown. ALHAMBRA (DUNEDIN) v. MERIVALE. Senior teams from these Clubs played their annual game on the North Park, on Saturday afternoon. There was a fairly good attendance, hut the game was not a particularly interesting one, the forwards having charge of most of the play. Alhambra kicked off, and a fast rush of the forwards at once had Merivale on the defensive. A good forward rush, headed by Lowry, Watson, Given and Hobson, carried the hall over the Merivale line, and the last named scored. Restieaux converted with a splendid kick. Johnston and Duggan then led ■ a forward rush to Alhambra’s flag, but sound play by Ross, Restieaux and Watson relieved the pressure somewhat. Merivale, though, maintained an advantage for some considerable time, and a couple of forcesdown were noted in their favour. Ross saved an imminent score just afterwards, and at half time play was in neutral ground. The second spell opened with a lot of even'' play, until at last Eestieaux’s work threatened the Merivale line. From a penalty kick the same player took a long awkward shot, and by a grand kick struck the centre of the cross-bar, the ball rebounding into play. Menzies snapped it up and dashed to the centre, hut the Reds came back, and good passing between the backs let Haig score a try. No goal resulted, and the score stood at eight to nil against the local team. A force in their favour occurred just afterwards. Menzies put in a number of good runs before the finish, and White and Fountain defended well, but a nice passing rush between Webber, Restieaux, Urquhart and Haig took the ball to" the line. White relieved with some excellent kicks, and the ball was in midfield when " no side ” was called. Mr T. W. Reese was referee.

UNION (DUNEDIN) v. LINWOOD. The annual match between the senior fifteens of these clubs was played on the North Part on Saturday, and resulted in a win for the visitors by eight points (a goal from a try and a try) to nothing. Lihwood kicked off, and after some loose play in the Union half R. Stewart started a dribbling rush, and, being well supported by Beadle and Alexander, the ball was taken right up to the Linwood line; the latter were forced shortly afterwards. Union resumed the attack and some smart footwork was shown by their forwards. * Price kicked to the centre, and during the nest five minutes some pretty passing was shown by the Linwood backs. The Union twentyfive was repeatedly invaded, but good tackling prevented a score. In one of these rushes P. O’Brien, one of the Linwood half-backs, had his nose broken, and took no further part in the game. Douglas then dribbled to the Linwood twenty-five flag. Some exciting play took place : near the home team’s line, and two forces-down resulted in favour of Union, but at half-time there was no score on either side. The play in the first fifteen minutes of tho second half was not very fast or open, the backs finding the greasy ball difficult to handle with accuracy. Hobbs, the Linwood centre threequarter, sustained an injury to his left ankle and had to leave the field, and for the remaining twenty minutes his side played with thirteen- men. The Union forwards, who had been holding their own all through, now asserted their superiority, and quickly took the ball into the Linwood twenty-five. The latter were compelled to act on the defensive, but considering their losses, played up really well. Prom a scrummage near the Linwood line Armstrong picked up and quickly transferred to M’Lennan who scored. No goal -was? kicked. Just before the game ended It. Stewart scored another try for Union and M’Lennan converted. Mr F. T. Evans was referee. PONEKE (WELLINGTON) v. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. . The annual fixture between these teams was played on the Boys High School ground. North Park. The ground was in fair order, but the ball was very greasy. Following the kick-off the visitors, who played throughout with better combination than the home team, kept up an attack, and from a penalty hick Lusk placed a fine goal. Some even play eventuated and then M’Kay dashed over the Bast line and Lusk again improved. Lorrimer and M’Kendry, by some touch-line'' work, took the play to safe quarters, but M’Gill put in a strong run, and Connall, following up fast, scored another try, and Lusk made another goal out of the place kick, and the teams crossed over with the visitors thirteen points to the good. On resuming give and take play ensued until M’Gill ended a fine run along the touch line by scoring. Lusk failed with the kick, but directly after he gave Driscoll a pretty pass after dodging through tho opposing backs, and another try was secured but without improvement. Pudney was next to score for the visitors, Lusk improving, and the same player placed another goal from a try gained by M’Kay shortly afterwards, making the total twenty-nine points (four goals from tries, one penalty goal and two tries) to nil. Mr W. G. Garrard was referee.

PONEKE SECOND v. ALBION SECOND. This match was played at the South Park, and resulted in a win for the Albion by three points to nil. Mr Soper was referee. The game . was marked by some very good back play on. the,part of both teams. The Albion forwards showed more cleverness than their opponents in heeling out, and it was through this that they scored the only try of the match, the ball coming from the scrum, and being handled by all. the backs before Adams crossed the line. UNION SECOND v. LINWOOD SECOND. This match resulted in a win for Union by six points (two tries) to five (a goal from a try). [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 5. It is expected that the football matches postponed yesterday on account of the bad weather, in which the Christchurch and Sydenham Clubs, from Christchurch, are engaged against the Wellington and Melrose Clubs here, will be played to-morrow, possibly at Petone.