FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12559, 22 July 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

CHRISTCHURCH v. MERIVALE

The final match, of the second' round of Senior games was played at Lancaster Park on Saturday, between Christchurch, and Merivale. Owing to the rain during the week the ground was in a bad state for football, and anything like a game was out of the question. Before play had been five minutes begun the players were covered with mud and water, and the game resolved itself into a mud scramble, the older club finally winning by six points' to three. The Misses Harper, on behalf of the Christchurch Club, provided afternoon tea, and the takings at the gate were £42 15s. The result of the match leaves Ohriistchuroh, and Merivale a tie for the championship. The- following table shows the positions of the teams: — :

There -was a slight' wind blowing dining the first spell, of whioh the Merivale team took advantage, and) Christohurch kicked off. After ft-"mark by. Harvey, which gained ground, a Merivale forward rush, headed by Drake, took pky to centre, where line - out / play, and scrummages in the nrud were constant. The Merivale forwards had the better of the encounter, but Rice by" accurate line kicking once more centred the play. Rattray and Parry's kicking placed. Merivale on the defensive, but Voyce (whose play was the feature of the game) kicked safely into touch, well up the field. Wood kicked high and the forwards charged down on Middletcn, but Harper got away just" in time, the Christchuroh team being forced down.; four times in quick succession. From a mark Drake had an unsuccessful shot at goal, and C. Bush was nearly over. Har.per kicked hard, and following up fast went to Voyce,/who safely returned. A Merivale rush and] a mistake by Rattray'had Christchurch defending, amd Woods passed quickly to Menzies, who got to line, and enabled Webster to score, but Drake missed the kick. The Christchurch. forwards charged right down the field;, and Harper kicked hard over the Meirvale line, where Walter's obstructed Voyce, and a force down was recorded just at half time.

The Christchurch backs failed 1 to return the kick off on resuming, and a lot of scrummaiges took place un-er their goal posts, but a free kick finally afforded relief. Martin took Rattray's place at halftime. The Ghristchurch forwards nowplayed up much better, andhy a series of dashes kept Bush and Voyce busy defending, the play being within the Merivale tw6nty-five. Martin picked up the ball amd dodged, two, or three opponents and passed to Harper, who scored, but taking the kick himself failed in the effort. From this out Christchurou, had much the best of 'the play, and thedn opponents appeared to tire. Keeping up the attack, Beauchamp scored for CkristcJiurch, Harper failing. A slight rally by the Merivale ■forwards gave them a chance of equalising the score, but oft'-side play at a critical moment afforded relief, and the Ch-rist-churoh forwards swept up the field) and kept their opponents busy defending, at which Voyce was most conspicuous, until call of time. Final score— Christchurch two tries {6 points), Merivale one try (3 points). Mr F. T. Evans was referee. JUNIOR FLAG. The Albion Second-Lyttelton First match, played at Lancaster Park, resulted in a win for the latter team by twenty-one points (fivo tries scored'by Watson (2), Koskella, Ross and Morris one each, Sinclair converted two of the tries and Berry one) to six points (two tries scored by Sykes and Percy). Mr R. Barry was referee. Christchurch Second were successful in defeating Merivale Second by eighteen points (six tries) to nil. Mr 'C. Hervey was referee. Richmond First won its-match against Canterbury College by default, the latter team failing to put in an appearance. The Sydenham l Second-Linwood Second game, played at Sydenham Park, resulted in an easy win for -Sydenham by forty-five points (thirteen tries scored, by MThail 2, Thomas 2, Davis 2, Round: 2, Mathers 2, Austin 1, Somerfield 1, and Johnston 1. Thrse of the tries were converted by Thomas 1, and Austin 2) to nil. PRESIDENT'S CUP. The Merivale A-Ohrist's College game was won by the former team by six points (two tries scored by Chapman and Chambers) to nil. Mr A. Hobbs was referee. The Sydenham C team succeeded in defeating the same club's B team by nine points (two tries soored by. Price and Henderson, and Moore kicked a goal from a penalty) to nil. The boys' High School A and B teams won their matches against Albion and North Canterbury respectively by default.

FOURTH CLASS COMPETITION. A match played at Lancaster Park between Imperial and Union ended in a win for the'former by seventeen points to nil. Mr A. Phillips was referee. The representative team to play against South Canterbury on Thursday next will bs selected this evening. On Saturday afternoon, at KaiapoiPark, a match was' played between the local Third and the Boys' High School, Christchurch, resulting' in a win for the Kaiapoi team by thirteen points.to nil. Mr G. M'Gregor was referee.

AUCKLAND FOOTBALL, rFnoii Our CoMi_sroND_NT.] AUCKLAND, July 20. The Senior football matches were continued thi3 afternoon in heavy rain. Grafton defeated Newton by three points to nil. Suburbs defeated Parnell by six points to nil. Ponsonby beat North Shore by nine points to six points.

WANGANUI FOOTBALL. rFROM Oun Correspondent.] L WANGANUI, July 20. Practically the last match of the season was played this -afternoon, between Wanganui and Kaierau, and resulted in a runaway victory for the latter by nineteen points to nil. The losers played fourteen men for the greater part of the game, and were quite unable to cone with the passing rush** of the Kaierau, who have greatly improved in the lest three matches. The Pirates have won the Cup, Kaisrau finishing second The Tarunaki Unicn has refused to pombina with Wanganui tor the proposed game against New South Wales. I understand the match will be given to the Wanganui Union. WELLINGTON V. WAIRARAPA. rp_a Press Association-. 1 WELLINGTON July '2O. Wellington defeated WaLrarapa by fourteen points to eight The ground was sloppv and the weather drizzly. It was a forward game though the Wellington backs cams'.with occasional sewing runs. Wallace played a ««» three-quarter game. He scored two tries and converted one and 'kicked a penalty goal Burr obtain*:! a +rv The Warr&rapa forwards were a dashing lot The backs were good at

line-kicking but had no combination. J. M'Kenzie and Armstrong obtained tries. One was converted by E. M'Kenzie. E. M'Kenzie and L. Armstrong were the pick of the Wairarapa men. The game a,s ai whole was interesting and well contested throughout but there were no brilliant features. W T airarapa led by eight to six at half-time. Mr Norris was referee. DUNEDIN FOOTBALL. [From Our Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, July 20. The first trial game was played at Carisbrqok this afternoon, and there was an excellent muster of players. The game was very fast,' and good form was shown on both sides, the spectators being worked up at times to unusual excitement. The Blues scored a try in the first spell, Wilkinson getting over the line after a passing rush initiated by Duncan. In the succeeding half, Hislop kicked a penalty goal for the Colours team, which had the best of the bout. The game ended threo points all. Another trial match will be played nextSaturday. NEW SOUTH WALES V. QUEENSLAND. United Press Elsotrio Telegraph—Copyris-ht. SYDNEY, July fO. In the football: match New South, Wales eleven points defeated Queensland eight points.

Score in m Points. i% 9& ni rt Club. £> rt -J S3 is <* *l &* S jL Hi P (S -0 Meiivale . 8 10 8 2 0 109 63 Christchurch 8 10 8 2 0 107 42 Linwood . 6 10 6 4 0 81 63 Kajapoi . 4 10 4 e 0 57 69 Albion. . . 4 10 4 6 0 101 77 Sydenham . 0 10 0 10 0 32 173