FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11050, 31 August 1896, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY v. OTAGO. The eighteenth annual match between these ancient rivals was played at Lancaster Park on Saturday afternoon in the presence of about 2500 spectators. The ground was wonderfully dry considering the recent rains, and the weather was all that could be desired for a game of football. The match turned out to be one of the most oven, exciting and interesting ever seen at Lancaster Park, and was won by the home team by the narrow margin of six points to five. By way of a change the Canterbury forwards, one and all, played with great dash and vigour, and quite neutralised most of the concerted actions of the Otago backs. The ball travelled up and down tho ground with lightning-like rapidity, and the spectators applauded with great animation and impartiality. : - Tho teams were as follows; —Otago — Full-back,. Ixing; three-quarter-backs, Stephenson, ..Gumiihgham and Armit; half-b;ick:a,. Dufican .(captain), Davis and Mason,;.: Jofwrti'ds, Cannipg;\;Parqualispp, Torrance, Harris, Stewart, M’Larcn, Priest and Beadle. . Canterbury—Full-back, Marshall; three-quarter-backs, Orchard, Lbrimer and O’Brien; five-eight, Glennie ; half-back, Price (captain) ; forwards, Johnston, King, Frost, . Patterson, Appleby, Forrest, Sanders, Evans and Lynskey. Mr F. T. Evans gave every satisfaction as referee,' and was supported on the touchlines by Messrs J. Williams and G. H, Mason.

Just at 3 pan. the Cautci'bury team, clad in the old. familiar lied and Blade, came on the field, and were immediately followed by the Otago men in Blue. After the customary cheers had been exchanged, Canterbury kicked off in a northerly direction, and Marshall by a timely and well-judged kick put the ball into touch well on Otago’s side of the flag. Then O’Brien earned applause by neatly stopping a swooping charge of Blue forwards headed by Priest and Beadle, and afterwards Patterson and Johnston led a tine counter rush back to Otago’s flag. Duncan’s good kicking gained ground for his side, and a deal of centre play was noted, neither side seeming inclined to give way a single inch. Canterbury instituted some good passing amongst the backs, which was frustrated by the dash and go of the Otago forwards, amongst whom Priest was very conspicuous, and Davis drove the ball out at the Beds’ flag. Jolmston at once started a' good dribble back, and a fine passing rush, in which Johnston, Price, Lorimcr and O’Brien took a hand, set play at Otago’s line, Duncan collaring O’Brien when a score seemed imminent. Torrance, Priest and Stewart soon averted any danger, and for a while the ball was bandied up and dowii the field at a great pace. Beadle’s good play again threatened the home team, but Lorimcr got away to the centre and Patterson went further on. Then despite good work by Duncan and Beadle, a smart piece of play drove the leather out at the centre. Upon the throw-in Duncan obtained possession, and, making a timely pass to Stephenson, the latter ran to the local line. O’Brien immediately returned to mid-field, and a lot of hard fighting there followed. Free kicks gave Otago an advantage which was maintained for a while, and a likely-looking passing rush initiated by Duncan and carried on by Cunningham, was spoilt by a fumble on the part of Armit, and play was again in the centre. King and Orchard went on, and after Davis had temporarily relieved, a fine passing rush in which Price, Glennie, Loriiner and Orchard took part, swept up the field, only, however, to bo nullified by a splendid kick by the Otago full-back. Price was awarded a penalty which went out at Otago’s flag, and a subsequent free kick to Otago centred again. Then came a beautiful display of passing between Price, Loriiner and Orchard, and the last-named dashed over at the corner amidst loud applause. Appleby failed with the place, and at the interval Canterbury was three points to the good. Soon after the start of the second spell, Davis, Armit, Mason and Priest, by pretty and combined play, went up the field irresistibly, and the last-named scored, and as Mason improved, five to three in favour of the Blues was registered. Priest and Torrance made good rushes into Canterbury's ground shortly afterwards, but were more than answered by Johnston, Frost, Loriiner and King, and Otago were again defending. Duncan, Davis and Armit replied, and a lot of hard fighting at Canterbury’s flag followed. Although Price relieved for a moment. Priest’s good work set the Reds on the defensive again, and a lot of long kicking' between the respective backs was ended by O’Brien finding the line at Otago’s flag. After the tlirow-in more good passing between Johnstons, Glennie and Orchard gave Orchard a chance of bumping off Otago’s full-back after a good run and scoring at the corner. Appleby failed with a difficult kiok, and the game stood at six to five in favour of Canterbury. Just afterwards Canning, one of Otago’s best forwards, retired with a broken rib, and till the finish the visitors played a man short. Upon resuming Price made a neat mark, and Appleby forced the Blues. Then came some good play by Patterson and Appleby, which took, the game to Otago’s line, but a bad fumble by Marshall was taken advantage of by M’Laren and Cunningham, and the Blues swept right up the field like a flash, and only O’Brien’s pace saved a certain score as he kicked out at the corner flag. A lot of hard fighting in front of Canterbury’s citadel followed, till King relieved with a fine kick to the centre, and another well-judged punt by Orchard gained further ground. Otago gained a free kick and a bad return by Marshall went out at Canterbury’s flag. Davis, Duncan, Cunningham and Armit threatened for a moment or two, but Loriiner, Frost, Appleby, Sanders and Patterson came away with a fine rush, and a good succeeding kick by Price put Otago on the defence, and O’Brien potting forced the Blues. Play hovered about the Blues’ flag until Duncan centred, and a free kick to Otago put the ball out at the Reds’ twenty-five. Patterson, Johnstone and Jjynskey soon worked to the centre though, and a good passing rush by Price, Lorimcr and O’Brien went to the Otago line, but a free kick to the Blues relieved, and the ball was in mid-field when Mr Evans sounded no-side, with Canterbury winners by six points to five after a fine and eventful game. The following are the results of the games between the provinces:— 1878— At Dunedin : Drawn, no score 1879 At Christchurch ; Drawn, no score 1880— At Dunedin ; Drawn, one try each 1381—At Christchurch: Otago won by one goal, one try to nil 1882—At Dunedin ; Otago won hy five goals, three tries to nil 18S3—At Christchurch : Otago won by one goal, three tries to nil 1884— At Dunedin : Canterbury won by one goal to one try 1885— At Christchurch ; Canterbury won by one goal, two trios to nil 188 S—At Dunedin; Drawn, no score 1887—At Christchurch: Drawn, one goal each 18S3 - At Dunedin: Otago won by one goal, four i tries to nil 188 C—At Christchurch : Otago won by three goals to one try 1890— At Dunedin : Otago won by two goals, three tries to one goal, one try 1891— At Christchurch: Otago won by eight points to three points 1892 At Dunedin: Canterbury won by seven points to four points 1893 At Christchurch : Canterbury won by five points to two points 1895 At Dunedin : Otago won hy thirteen points to eleven points 1896 At Christchurch: Canterbury won by six points to five points The Otago men left Lyttelton by the Penguin on Saturday night for the North Island, and were accorded a hearty send off by the local footballers. On Saturday afternoon a match was played on the Kaiapoi Park between the Kotahitanga (North Island team) and a mixed team from the Kaiapoi Club. After

a very rough game the local men were defeated by fourteen points (two goals and one potted goal) to nine points (one goal and one potted goal). Tho local team showed better play in the open, but in the scrum the Natives had the advantage. During the game one Kaiapoi man sustained a broken rib, and several others were knocked out. Tho following will represent Sydenham y. Te Kotalutanga, on Thursday, at Lancaster Park: —H. A r oyce, E. Samuels, D. Halliday, S. Halliday, H. Bobson, J. Donnelly, G. Petrie, J. Fordo, S. Fraser, J. Kennedy, J. Kett, N. Thomas, F. Denham, H. Harrison, AY. M*Arthur; emergencies— A. White, J. Eeese, E. Merritt, T. Voyce. Tho above are requested to meet at the club-rooms ou Monday and Tuesday evenings.

[Per Press Association.] NAPIER, August 29.

The Te Anau with tbe Wellington representatives did not arrive : till six o’clock this .evening, from.-Auckland.. The match, consequently, was. abandoned, ; and. ' the southerners .left- for...home by .tlie-sn.nia steamer a few -hours, later... There';,.was; splendid weather for tho fixture, and th&rfe, were , many visitors. in' town. Therefore thei‘o was great disappointment. - .' AYELLINGTON COLLEGE v.. CHRISTS ' ’ COLLEGE. AVELLINGTON, August 29. The match between AYellington College and Christ’s College, Christchurch, was played at Petone to-day, and was one of the best expositions of the game seen this season. In the first spell Eothenburg, of the local boys, scored a doubtful try, which was converted, the spell ending — AYellington five, Christchurch nil. In the second spell the visitors made several brilliant rushes, from one of which Blundcn scored, but tbe attempt to convert was a failure. AYellington scored three tries in this spell by the aid of Tomoan'a, Edwards and Eothenburg, the first and third being converted, the game ending AYellington eighteen points, Christchurch three. The local boys averaged about a stone heavier than the visitors, and having all the best of the scrums, got the ball away repeatedly before their wing opponents knew where it was. Had it not been for unselfish passing on tho part of the visiting forwards-when at times a score appeared certain, the game might have i-esultcd in not such a de-, cisive beating. About 1200 persons were present.

NELSON COLLEGE v. CHRISTCHURCH BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

NELSON, August 29.

In tho college football tournament, Nelson College met Christchurch High School to-day. After an interesting game, in which the visitors’ forwards proved themselves a good lot. Nelson won by eighteen points to three. In the first spell Usher and Stuckey scored tries for the College, E. Mules converting both. P. Mules, and Stuckey scored in the second spell; one try being converted. The only score for the School was obtained by Tendall, after an excellent run. The visitors owe their defeat chiefly to the superior back play of the Collegians, particularly P. Mules, Stuckey, Armstrong and Usher. For the School excellent forward work was done by Thomson, Lewin, O’Brien and 'MTlwraith. Their best backs were Tendall, Nurse, Harper and Byrne. Nelson will play AYellington College on Wednesday. QUEENSLAND v. SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL, August 29. Tho football match, Queensland v. Southland, played this afternoon, was won by the latter by twenty-three points to three. For the winners Bain got three tries and Molloy, Jenkins, Donaldson and Manson one each, M’Eobie converting one. For Queensland Anderson got a try in the latter part of the second spell. The placekicking of the winners was poor. The game was nearly .-always in Queensland territory, but they played best in the second spell with the wind and the sun against them. Southland’s score in the first spell being seventeen. It was a model day for the game, a light wind blowing nearly across the ground, which the drying winds of a week past had put in splendid order. The match having been postponed to a busy day, the attendance was, of course, poor, being somewhere about a thousand. Except for an occasional flash of smart work. Southland’s play was not meritorious.