FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12481, 22 April 1901, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The competition, matches were commenced on. Saturday. At Lancaster Park, the principal attraction was the game betAveen Merivale . and the Avinnexs of last year, Christchurch, Avhich produced a capital contest, in which, after having much the worst of the play in the first half, the Merivale forwards got to A\ r ork and practically had the match won before their opponents grasped tho altered condition of affairs, scoring thirteen points to eight. On the adjoining ground, after an even contest, in which there avos not much skill displayed-, Limvood beat Sydenham by nine points to three, whilst Albion delated Kaiapoi on the latter’s ground by five points to three. The lady supporters of -the Christchurch Club—Mrs P. Hoare and the Misses Hoare, Donald) and D. Fisher—kindly dispensed afternoon, tea, and the takings at the gate were £3l 0s 9d. CHRISTCHURCH Y. MERIVALE. This game was played in front of the grandstand, and both teams were strongly represented, the older club having practically all , their hacks of last year, whilst the Merivale had a large number of promoted juniors, who proved their worth. A strong Avind bleiv across the ground, Avithoiit much assistance to either team, but rendered kicking difficult. A forward rush Avas first noticed after -the kick-off, in which R. and C. Cook were prominent, but Middleton soon made up the lost ground 'by some fine touch-line kicking. Then the Christchurch. backs, Harvey, Rattray, Parry -and Rice, by combined play, sAvept right down the field, the latter being pushed into touch just at the corner and' several hard-fought scrums took place near the Merivale goal-line. Finally the attack proved successful, Rice scoring after some passing betAveen Harvey, Rattray and Parry. Harper kicked a fine goal. A bad return by Rice from the kick-off let the Merivale fonvards away, T. and W. Wood heading the charge, and Yoyce, from full-back, had a hurried pot at goal, the Christchurch being forced*. Harper put in a strong touch-line, run, and the play was centred, and from several marks Harper forced the Merivale team with play still about mid field. The Christchurch backs, Parry and' Rice, notably, got to work, and. LaAvrence got over, Harper failing in the kick. ; Some kicking by Bush and Fraser gave Merivale an advantage, and their forwards- swep t to the goal-line, Avhere Berry snapped up the ball hnd scored an easy try, but Fraser was unsuccessful with the kick.

The second spell opened with some fast back play by the Christchurch team, but failure, to handle the ball at the critical moment ■ lost tAvo or three tries. Yoyce, Avho kicked really well, gained a lot I bi ground for his side, and the Merivale forwards set to work and set up a series of dashes which, the Christchurch backs (who were handicapped through Party having to retire), failed to stop, and for some time the Reds were- kept busy. In one of the dashes Bush folloAved up fast, and although deliberately obstructed by Harper, scored a try, Yoyce kicking a capital goal. Keeping up the attack, the Merivale forwards had play really to themselves,, and E. Martinet scored, Yoyce again kicking a grand goal. This gave Merivale five points lead, but just at time Pascoe and Ayers got away, and play was at the Merivale line. The Christchurch backs got possession, and Rice had only to take the pass to score in a good position. He failed, and the game ended in Merivale’s quarters. Filial scores—Merivale t>vo goals from tries, and one try, thirteen points ; Christchurch—One goal from try and one try, eight points. Mr R. W. Barry Avas referee. LINWOOD v. SYDENHAM. These tAvo teams met on Saturday, at Lancaster Park, in the first round of the Senior Cup matches. Linwood kicked off against the Avind, and play at once centred, the game for some time being of an even nature. The LinAvood fonvards took the ball Avith a" loose rush to Sydenham’s line, but the latter relieved from a free kick, and folloAving up Avell, worked the, bail right dorvn the field, and Linwood forced. Play settled for'a time near the Linwood line, but looseness among the Sydenham backs allowed the game to be removed again into their quarters. A long kick by Round relieved 1 , -and Howell mulling the return, the Sydenham forwards rushed the ball down the line, and dn a scramble for possession Gerard got over near the corner, the kick at goal failing— Sydenham three, Limvood nil. The remainder of the spell Avas evenly contested, and there was no further score. After the kick-off play settled in Limvood’s tAven-ty-five, and the defenders forced. Smart foIIoAA-ing up removed the scene of operations to Sydcnhpix quarters, and Linwood, keeping a strong attack, from a scrum on the line Nexvton slipped OArer. Howell failed to convert—Sydenham three, Linwood three. The game became a* little freer from this out, and for some time neither side could claim much advantage. Liriwood ultimatelv took the play into Sydenham’s tAventy-five, and a smart passing run, in Avhich O’Brien, M’Gillicuddy and Gaw figured, -ended in the last-named running in, but Howell again failed to register the major point. LinAvood- six, Sydenham three. Some scrambling work followed, mostly in Sydenham’s territory, ending in Smith getting over from ascrum near the line, but Howell again failed in the kick at goal. No further score Avas made, and the game ended shortly afterAvarde—Linwood nine, Sydenham three. Mr C. W. Garrard was the referee. - - I ALBION v. KAIAPOI. Albion and Kaiapoi First Fifteens met

at Kaiapoi. The local team won the.toss, Albion kicking off against a slight breeze. Immediately after the start the ball Was rushed to Kaiapoi quarters, the home players being forced within two minutes. Soon after a kick-out a nice passing rush was started by the Albion, backs, Weston, Butler and Lavery being prominent, a knock-on spoiling a good chance, A forward rush by Kaiapoi took the ball to Ah /in’s twenty-five, where a mark was secured, but Templeton made a poor attempt at goal. The Kaiapoi backs spoilt a good chance by mulling, and Albion backs then shifted play with a passing rush, a good) opening to score being lost by a forward handling the ball in a scrum on the Kaiapoi line. Kaiapoi rallied, and from a free-kick near • Albion’s twentyfive, Templeton failed at goal. Kaiapoi got on a loose, forward rush, W. Blackwell crossing the line and scoring. D. M’Gregor took the kick, but failed W iim prove the score. Soon after, Albion again forced, as the result of long kicking. A passing rush by Kaiapoi, in which M’Gregor and M’Dougall were prominent, was stopped by the former being run into touch at the comer. From the kick-fmt, Kaiapoi continued to press, and Albion forced. A free-kick was awarded Kaiapoi near the centre, Albion again forcing. Soon after, the ball again crossed the Albion line, another force resulting, _ and half-time was soon called, with Kaiapoi leading by three points. A few minutes after play was re-started, Weston obtained possession from a scrum in his own twenty-five, a nice piece of passing between Weston and Lavery shifting the play past the centre. Lavery then kicked hard, and the Albiofa forwards, following up fast, got on a rush, Johnston scoring near, the posts. Weston took the kick and placed a goal. The Kaiapoi backs got on a nice passing rush, which took the play to Albion’s twenty-five, but Weston, intercepting a pass, relieved the pressure.. Soon after this Weston received a kick in the back, and had, to be taken off the field. . On play being resumed, Kaiapoi attacked. ■ Kaiapoi’s full-back failing to take the ball from a kick, Albion rushed the play to Kaiapoi’s quarters. A free-kick to Albion gave the latter a chance, but Lavery ' failed at goal. Kaiapoi rallied, and a good passing rush, in which A. Green, M’Gregor and Featherston were prominent, took the ball _ to _ Albion s twenty-five. Soon after Kaiapoi marked, but Templeton failed in the shot at goal. Albion gradually worked the ball back to Kaiapoi’s twenty-five, bub a free-kick relieved the pressure, and time was called soon after, without any addition to the score. The game thus ended in a win for Albion by a goal from a try 1 (five points) to a try (three points). Mr T. R. Cress well was the referee. > : ■ PRESIDENT'S CUP. The match between the Lyttelton Third and the Linwood Second took place on the Lyttelton Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a win for the former by twenty-eight points—-two- goals from tries, and six tries—to nil. A fast back game was played in the first spell, and the second spell was a series of forward rushes. The Linwood men -were overmatched throughout, the superiority of the Lyttelton backs being especially marked. The tries were obtained by J.Morris (two), A. Morris (two), J. James (two), F. Reed and A.' Beaumont. A. Morris kicked the two goals. The Morris Bros., Retd, Koskella, James and Porteous were conspicuous among the Lyttelton players. For Linwood, Jones, at three-quarter, played a very good game. Playing at Sydenham, North Canterbury'beat the Sydenham C team by one point. For the winners, F. Banks obtained a try, which T. Shankland con-

verted, and for the ether side Lawson kicked a goal from a mark. ( WELLINGTON MATCHES. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON. April 20. The football season opened to-day. Wellington boat Oriental by 18 points to 11. The Old Boys beat Petone by 11 points to 3.