FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 14053, 7 May 1906, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. Though the grounds were a little slippery on the surface as the result or the recent rain and frost, the weather on Saturday was favourable to the continuation of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s competitions. At Lancaster Park; where three matches m the senior championship were played, there was fv fairlv large attendance, the sum of £2O 10s 9d being taken at the gates. Play in the. Christchurch-Lmwood match on the east ground, and the Old Boys-Sydenhara match on the west ground, was fairly interesting, though Christchurch had- all the best of the game towards the finish, winning by twenty-two points to three. Sydenham showed much better form than they did a week earlier, winning by eight points to nil. The third match was played on the south ground, where Menvale.deleated Canterbury College by twenty»ne points to nil. Afternoon tea was provided by the lady supporters of the Albion Club, those in charge being Meisdames Thomas, Bettel, Robson and Powell, and Misses Langey, Atkinson md Allan. In the fourth championship game, jlayed on the polo ground in Hagley Park, Albion " easily defeated Kaiapoi by forty-eight points to three. The following are details of the play; SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. CHRISTCHURCH v. LINWOOD. Linwood kicked off, and play settled in the Christchurch twenty-five. A freekick to Linwood was taken by Fraser, vho failed in his attempt at goal. Sushell and Marriner were then prominent for some fin© dribbling work, but Templeton 1 by a long kick found the lino well outside his twenty-five flag. A miskick by Linwood enabled Christchurch to set up a strong attack, but off-side play neutralised the advantage gained. M’Donald picked up smartly and sent the hall to Fryer, who made a good dash, but his pass to the wing was fumbled. Linwood forwards then took the play to the Christchurch. twenty-five, where a free-kick waa given them, but no goal resulted, and Christchurch was forced down. From a scrum Jones got nicely away, but his- pass was not accepted, and the Christchurch forwards took the -ball to the Linwood line. Dribbling rushes by both, teams kept the game open, and a fine run by Fraser into the Christchurch twenty-five looked like a certain score, but his wing fumbled. Denhain marked under the Linwod goal and Fryer added the three points. Christchurch? was forced directly after the kiek off, and Fryer replied with a fine run into his opponents’ ground, but again his pass was refused. Linwood worked play back, and Fraser made a fine run up to the Christchurch line, where, from a scramble, Ormandy crossed just on half time. On resuming Christchurch kicked off and soon Linwood forced. In an interchange of kicks between the backs Fraser fumbled badly, and Virtue scored for Christchurch. Fryer failed, with, the kick. After the kica off play settled in Christchurch twenty-five, and they were forced three times in quick succession. The Christchurch forwards took play to the Linwood twenty-five, and Fryer obtaining possession, made a characteristically determined run, and scored under the poets, adding the extra points for a goal himself.- Newton took play to the Christchurch twenty-five by a good dribble, but M’Donald relieved by a long kick. From a scrum in Linwood territory, Jones slipped round on the blind side, and scored an easy try, but Fryer’s attempt at goal was fruitless. Directly- afterwards, from a scrum, the balk was handled by Jones, M’Donald, Fryer and Martin, the last-named scoring at the corner, but no goal was kicked. From a forward rush, Virtue soared in a good position, and Fryer kicked i goal. Play then settled in the Christchurch twenty-five, where Fraser failed with a penalty kick just on the call of time. .Christchurch won by twenty-two points to three. Mr J. T. Weston was teferee.

SYDENHAM v. OLD BOYS. Old, Boys kicked off, and after the usual exchange of kicks by the backs, play settled at the Sydenham end, hut good passing by Doall, Doherty, Austin and M’Phail. relieved the pressure, and the Sydenham forwards getting possession; carried the play into Old Boys’ territory. From a free kick awarded to Sydenham, Fitzgerald followed up well and scored, Austin kicking a goal. A lot of uninteresting play followed until Doell started a rush, and Doherty picking up, passed to Austin, enabling the latter to score the second try, for Sydenham. Norman failed to kick a goal. On changing ends, Old Boys had two shots at goal from free kicks in rapid succession, but no score resulted. Play was then confined to the forwards, and the ball was in mid-field for the greater part of the spell. Hopkins, getting tne hall from a line-out. raced For the Old Boys’ line, hut when he got over lost the ball, a force down resulting. When, the' whistle sounded, play was in the centre. Sydenham won by eight points to nil. Mr W. A. Drake was referee. MERIVALE v. CANTERBURY COLLEGE. Merivale had all the best .of the opening play against Canterbury College, and for ten minutes the ball was never out of the College twenty-five. The Merivale' passing was very poor, none of the backs being able to handle the ball, and College kept off the attack until Ford broke away in the loose and made an opening for Henderson, who scored an easy try. Hardingham’s shot at goal failed. Good footwork by the College forwards took the ball to the Merivale twenty-five, but it was soon back on the College line, and Smith scored as the result of a forward rush. Hardingham kicked a goal. Merivale continued to attack, and had several unsuccessful shots at ?;oal from free kicks, but there was no urther score before half-time, though llerivale were hard pressed • once by a forward rush, which just missed scoring. Merivale attacked again at the beginning of the second spell, hut their dashes for the line were ineffective. After some up and down play, Read got in a high kick, which was missed by the College full-back, and the Merivale player, securing the ball again, scored an easy try, Hardingham converting. Shortly afterwards, Wood scored again for Merivale, working his way over from a scrum, and Hardingham kicked another goal. The College forwards rallied, and kept their opponents busy for some minutes, but were unable to break through the defence. •In the last five minutes Merivale again invaded College territory, and a passing rush, in which all the backs took part, ended in Read scoring a try, which was not converted. Time was called, Merivale winning by twenty-one points to nil. Mr T. E. Saxton was referee. ALBION v. KAIAPOI.

Albion kicked off against a slight •wind, and at once attacked, bard kicking by their forwards forcing Kaiapoi. From a scram in Kaiapoi twenty-five Burns obtained possession and mado a good opening for_ Weston, who scored. Stevens failed with the kick at goal. A minute later a passing rush between Burns, Weston and Gray enabled the latter to>touch, down, Stevens converting. Line-out play followed the kickout, until the Albion forwards, headed by Shannon and Niven, took play to the Kaiapoi line, where Pearce marked and Stevens kicked an easy goal. Albion continued to attack until a free kick gave Kaiapoi relief, and Langley, Driscoll and W. Blackwell took play into Albion quarters with a good rush. Stevens, Wighton ' and Pearce shifted to the other end of tho field, and

Shannon broke away from a line-out and scored, Stevens failing to convert. Even play followed the kick out for some minutes, when the Albion forwards, headed by Wilson, Webb and Tyree, enabled the latter to score. Weston converted. Half-time was called, soon after with the score Albion nineteen, Kaiapoi nil. On changing ends Albion again attacked, Gray and Pearce taking play to the Kaiapoi twenty-five, where from a scrum Burns obtained possession, and, after a good passing rash, Weston scored, Stevens failing with the kick. The Kaiapoi forwards, headed by Blackwell brothers, Barnes and-Henoy, then attacked, and from a mark by Collins in a fair position Templeton kicked a good goal. After the kick out a series of scrums was formed on the visitors’ line, and from a forward scramble Shannon scored for Albion. Meadows kicked a good goal. kicking by Turnbull and Barrett for Kaiapoi kept play in the centre for some time, but Meadows took a mark, and Stevens kicked a goal from halfway. The Albion forwards again took play to Kaiapoi quarters, and Pearce dodged oyer. Meadows was again successful with the kick at goal. Directly after the kick out Burns and Wilson scored in quick succession, Gray converting the latter try. An interchange of kicks found the ball at the Kaiapoi twenty-five, and the Albion forwards took play to the line, hut Templeton relieved with a good kick to half-way, where play remained for a few' minutes. The Albion backs then broke away with a good passing rush and Stevens scored a try, which Burns converted. Tim© was then called with the score Albion forty-eight, Kaiapoi threel Mr 0. Read was referee. JUNIOR FLAG. The most keenly contested game in the competition was that between Sydenham and Merivale, and the latter won by six points (tries scored by Horner and Maxwell) to nil. At half-time Merivale w r or© leading by three points, but Sydenham attacked fiercely on the resumption of play, and, would have scored, but for stubborn defence, the Merivale full-back , relieving time after time with long kicks. Merivale then took a hand in attack, and by several forward rushes invaded the hostile territory, where Maxwell got over the line. Mr S. Orchard was referee. In a scrambling game, devoid of much scientific play, Old Boys defeated Richmond by eleven points to nil. Ryder scored two tries and Bowen one, and Cresswell converted one of the tries. The gam© was between the forwards, and Old .Boys were cleverer in the loose. Mr j. Austin was referee. Linwood and Christchurch were well matched, and at half-time, in a very uneven game, which was not favoured with an oven ground, no score had been registered. The second spell was evenly contested, and both sides had opportunities of scoring, but it was not until close on time that Granger got over for Linwood, and this was the only score. Linwood three, Christchurch ml. Mr H. Grammar was referee. Albion defeated Canterbury _ College rather easily by seventeen points to three. For the winners, Turner, Smith, Pengolly, Robinson and Righton scored tries, one of which' Smith converted. Adamson scored a try for Canterbury College. Mr J. L. Price was referee. PRESIDENT’S CUP. Merivale A won easily in the match against Canterbury College, scoring twenty-six points to nil. The try scorers were Gallop (2), Mutton, Hasell, Cade, Scott, Hegarty and M’ Connell. Soanes converted- on© try. Mr C. Buchanan was referee. Merivale C beat Linwood B by ten points to three. For the winners, Oreswell scored a try and potted a goal, and Packer also got over the line. Piercy scored a try for Linwood. The game was a back one, Merivale getting the ball from the scrums, while the backs worked evenly, Creswell and Simpson -being prominent. Small, in the forwards, was noticeable for hard work. Mr S. W. Binns was referee. Albion A defeated Merivale B by ten points to nil. Mr J. Hickenbottom was referee. Lyttelton Pirates defeated Albion B, at Lyttelton, by fifteen points to six. For Lyttelton, E. Gillard scored two tries, Meikle two, and Boyd one. Agassiz scored a try for Albion, and Lavery kicked a goal from a mark. Mr R. Cockayne was referee. Christchurch journeyed to Kaiapoi and defeated the local team by eight points to three. Wright, for Christchurch, scored two tries, and Deacon converted one of them. Mr G. M’Gregor was referee. VICE-PRESIDENT’S. Sydenham A met Lyttelton Garrison at th© Sydenham Park. The play was rough, hut very interesting, and resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. Mr W. Pike was referee. Sydenham B met Old Boys .at the Sydenham Park, and the play resulted in a win for Sydenham by twenty points to three. Tries were got by King (2), Savage (1), Murfit (1) and Sinclair (1). Sinclair also converted a try. and kicked a goal from a mark. Mr W. Pegley was referee. NORTH CANTERBURY UNION. SENIOR FLAG. N’tu Ahuriri had an easy victory oyer North Canterbury at Tuahiwi, scoring thirty-three points to three. For the winners, tries were scored by Karaitiana, P. Huria, Tainui, Perewiti, Whakarau, 6. Huria (two), and P. George. P. Huria converted two tries and Karaitiana one. Perewiti also kicked a penalty goal. For North Canterbury, Jordan kicked a goal from a penalty. Mr C. A. Cuff was referee. On the Rangiora Domain Amborley defeated Oxford by six points to nil. Tries were scored by W, Boyce and J. Martin. Mr. H. C. Wilson was referee. Southbrook defeated Cust by fifteen points to nil. E. Bloomfield, Schmidt and L. Seed scored tries, 1 which were converted by W. Desch, Schmidt, L, M’Donald. Mr H. Urn was referee. No Junior Cup matches were played. OTHER MATCHES. Christchurch Fourth beat Richmond Third on th© latter’s ground by twenty-seven points ’ to five. The following scored for the winners: Grawshaw, F. S. Johnson, Spanger Merton, E. H. Johnstone, Button and Morgan. F. S. Johnson converted two tries, and Mathias one. In the early stages of the game Richmond, intercepting a pass, scored behind the posts, and converted. After this Christchurch scored at frequent intervals. WELLINGTON FOOTBALL. [From Our Coßßzsi’ONmaNT.] WELLINGTON, May o. There was perfect weather for this afternoon’s matches, and the turf was in good order. The Senior matches resulted :—old Boys three, Wellington nil; Athletic forty-one, Southern nil; Poneke thirteen, Oriental nil; Petono thirty-two, Victoria College three. NELSON FOOTBALL. fFnoji Oor Correspondent.] NELSON, May 5. The first championship fixtures of the season were played to-day in perfect

weather. The Senior Cup match, Nelson v. Albion, resulted in an easy win for the former by twenty points to nil. Tries were scored by Smith (3), M’Cabe, Comes and Christie. The place-kick-ing was poor. Of the six kickers tried, Henry was the only one successful. Considering that it was the first match of the season, the exhibition was good, Nelson giving a fine display of passing. The Junior Championship match Rivals v. Waimea, was won by the former by six points to nil. DUNEDIN. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, May 5. Tli© Senior football matches were played to-day in fine weather, but the grounds were heavy after the rain overnight. Kaikorai (eight) beat Port Chalmers (three); University (six) beat Dunedin (three); Alhambra (three) beat Zingari (nil); Union and Pirates drew (three points each). .