FOOTBALL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 23 July 1888, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

MARLBOROUGH F.C. Y NELSON

F.C.

By our Football Reporter. A glorious day and a largo crowd of onlookers welcomed the second appoaranco of the Nelson Town Football team on our local ground. The match itself was of far more interest than that of the previous day 'the two teams were more evenly matched, and until tho last moment there was considerable doubt as to which team should prove victorious. The visitors appeared to be in much better fettle, but the local team could not bo said to have been up to their usual standard of excellence, Sume players even went so far as to remark that they were never seen to play worse this season Be this as it may, tho Nelson men played a rattling good game. Harper was undoubtedly the hero of the day. Either he was in better form, or he was not sufficiently well watched, for he greatly distinguished himself on Saturday—a thing which he failed to’ do the previous day. The Marlborough men now and again gained somo ground, on account of judicious passing, but as a rule their passing was smothered by tho Nolson forwards. The majority of the local forwards worked well, but they were not supported by their backs as they should have been. But one fact remains—had the local men played as they did the previous Friday, they would in all probability have 11 run through ” their opponents of Saturday last. It was romarked on all sides on Saturday that, to uso, a slang phrase in use among footballers, the Marlborough men were “ a lump off.” They did not play with their usual dash, and there seemed to be a slowness about their play all through. The .Nelson men played a fifty per cent better game than they did the previous day. Their forwards got on some splendid rushes, and tried to keep tho play as looso as possible, as they were always worstod in tight scrams. Whenever a tight scrum was formed tho Marlborough men shoved their opponents, aud generally gained a large amount of ground before their rushes could be stopped. The game was played iu the best possible humor, a result due to tho exertions of Captain Glasgow and Captain Dodson. The former has become renowned in Blenheim for his excellent behaviour and management when in charge of his team, and he has taught our local players a lesson which I am sure they wi’l all endeavor to carry out.

| When the two teams filed out the usual ’ compliments peculiar to tho football field ' were exchanged, the visitors making a “ big hit” with the Maori cry “ Ake ake akea kea haka.” Dodson won the toss, ( and as a matter of course, doeided to defend the northern goal, with the sun at his back. Harper kicked off, but Empson returned tho leather smartly. From th» ensuing serum tho hall was passed to Hathaway, who made good use of his > opportunity, and turned the scene of play to the visitors’ (Blues’) twenty-five. The [ Blue forwards, however, soon cleared • their lines, and took tho ball to neutral i territory, where give-and-take play and j scrummaging was the order of the day 3 for a short time, but Pasley at ! length punted tho ball out of bounds l near the visitors’ twenty-five, and from the throw-in Trolovo got the ball and r took it back to its old place. A scrum > was formed at the centre, and F. Dodson p went off at a good pace with a dribble, . which had the effect of putting the Blues l on the defensive. Cresswell proved to be j of great service to liis side on account of his collaring, notwithstanding the fact that he was suffering from a severe sprain of ono of the wrists. Clouston aud Trolovo again took the ball to mid-field, where it remained for some time, although both sides made desperate offorts to shift it. Gradually tho local team (Reds) forced their opponents, but Clouston got the ball, and undid all the hard work they had accomplished. He, in company with Duncan, took the ball into the Rods’ twenty-five. The local team mado great efforts to relieve their side, and Douslin and Hale went off at a dribblo, but Glasgow' stopped their career. Soon afterwards the Reds, by a combined rush, took tlio leather right to the other end of the field, and were only stopped by Trolovo near the line. T. Nesbitt looked dangerous, hut ho w'as fortunately stopped by Clouston. Gaukrodger rnadn a splendid run, but he was collared by Glasgow before ho could get in. At last Cressw'oll and Duncan took the ball to neutral territory, where Harper got a mark, and drove the ball into the Reds’ twenty-five. From tho lino out the ball was passed to Gaukrodger, who mado a couple of fine runs, on each occasion being collared by Lipscombo. This hail the effect of taking tho ball to the other end of tho field, where Nesbitt rushed it across tho line, aud Sadd forced down. On tho kick-off, Hathaway got the ball, and looked like scoring, but he could not p iss the inevitable Harper. Ledger then made ono of tho best runs of the day, taking the ball from his own twenty-five to that of his opponents’. But Gaukrodger soon relieved his side, and the Blues were again on the defensive. Clouston made a run and together with the other forwards worked the hall to the Reds’ twenty-five. Harper began to look , dangerous, when ho was luckily shoved j out of bounds. Harris then distinguished i himself, but Cresswell and Duncan took the ball from him and all hut crossed the lino. Tho Red forwards then worked like “demons,” and had succeeded iu clearing the ground when half-time was ! called, tlio play being about the Reds’ twenty-five yard flag. Scores, nil. The second spell proved to be of mors interest than the first. F. Dodson kicked olf, and Harper made a run and carried the ball into the Reds’ twenty-five. The success, however, was short lived,, as the Red forwards with a swoop took tho hall into the Blues’ tirritory, whero Hathaway was just crossing tho line when Glaigow brought him down. Buiok now showed lip well among the forwards, and chiefly owing to his exertions the play -was shifted to in front of the Blues’ goal, where scrum after serum was formed, tho ball being gradually worked to the right of the posts II lie went off at a splendid dribble, being closely followed by Leu Dodson They crossed near the touch line, and Dodson fell on tho ball amidst deafening cheers. Pasley took the kick, and although it was a difficult ono ho narrowly escaped placing a goal, the ball touching the crossbar. On the kick-olf the Blues lushed the ball down the field, but Empson punted a return. Harper, however, made a long run and took the ball to the Reds’ twenty-five, from which predicament F. D idson relieved his aide with a splendid dribble, being only stopped by Glasgow near the centre. Hathaway attempted to get away, but he was pounced on by Glasgow. The ball was then passed to Harp r, and starting at the centre he went clean through everything, making the best run of the day. Empson and Gaukrodger caught him. but coal l not prevent Km taiung across the line. I I-irp -r was loudly and deservedly cheered for hieffort. Glasgow did not succeed in adi•ng to th" score. Both teams went to work with a will, each being bent '<n scoring. Duncan passed to Harper, who made a long punt, and the ball going across the line, Empson touched it down. At this stage the visitors made the best use they could of their kicking pi,vers, and by this means tV. qe ntly game 1 a lot of ground. Play fora time w-s confined to the centre, where Glasgow obtained a mark. He placed the bull for Harper

•who made a very fair kick. 1 'he Reds at last got a rush on, but Glasgow ' succeeded in stopping it. Young and a Hathaway made some dodgey and services bio runs, but they could not succeed in passing Glasgow or Harper. Trolove an d others made a dangerous incursion into ti ie Reds a twenty-five, hut Ttoung fell on ti io ball. Gaukrodger made a run, but he w as collared by Cresswell before ho cou Id get under weigh. Hathaway followed with a splendid run, being knocked 01 it of bounds by Glasgow. (Houston at las. t relieved his side, and Ledger, picking up the ball from his own dribble, made • one of the finest and most exciting runs of the day, and actually succeeded in ere ssing the lino. In doing so, however, 110 lost the ball, and F. Dodson, who wa s about, fell on it and saved his side. Tilt ' Reds soon worked their way to the centre, where Harper got a mark, but Gillespie pluckily stopped the kick. The Reds then resorted to passing, but Glasgow generally managed to smother it. The ball was kept travelling about tho field for a short time, from one end to the other, and time was called with play near the Reds’ twenty-five flag. Au exciting game thus resulted in a draw, each sido scoring a try. Messrs Gorrie (Nelson) and Fisher (Marlborough) umpired, and Mr Barton acted as referoe, their decision being received in good part by the players. Wo are certainly of opinion that tho visit of /•the Nelson Prince Alberts and Nelson <Town team will prove of service to our local players, as they could not havo failed to have learnt a fow “wrinkles” from their Nelson friends, which they w' ' not be slow to make the best possible use of. When tho two teams lined out on Saturday, frequent comment was mado re the splendid physique of tho men. Tboy were pretty evenly matched in that respect, and it was the general opinion that it would indeed ho a difficult task to find a moro athletic-loot 'ng set of young men. The visitors wero also complimented on a’’ sides for their very excellent behaviour, both on and off tho football field. THE DINNER Was held in tho Masonic Hotel in the evening, and turned out to be a great success—even a greater success than that which took placo on the previous Saturday. The dining-room was again taxed to its utmost for accommodation. Tho spread was a first-class ono, and reflects tho greatest credit on the hostess, Mrs T'ait. This lady was untiring in her efforts throughout the eroning to make tho gathering as big a succoss as possible. As on tho previous occasion, Messrs Fisher and Thompson aro deserving of tho thanks of those present for the manner in which they had carried out all arrangements in connection with the affair. After the “ inner-man ” had been satisfied, the tables woro cleared, and a toast list prepared similar to that of the previous Saturday night. Mr J. P. Lucas, Vice-President of tho Marlborough Ui"’on, made an efficient chairman. Ho was supported on the right by Mr M'lver, tho Union captain, and on the left by Mr Glasgow, the Nelson captain. Mr A. Oldorshuw, VicePresident of the Marlborough F.G., filled the vice-chair.

The following were the toasts : —“ The Visiting Team,” by tho Chairman ; responded to by Mr Glasgow. Tho Marlborough and Union Clubs,” by Mr Glasgow ; responded to by Messrs Dodson and M'lvor. “Football,” by Mr J. Kirby ; responded to by Messrs Glasgow, Burton and Fisher. “ The Umpires and Reforee,” by Mr It. M'Callum ; responded to by Messrs Dodson, Gorrio and M'Callum. “ Tho Press,” by Mr M'lvor; responded to by Messrs Kirby and Burns. “ Tho Ladies,” by Mr Ledger : responded to by Mr G. Carter, “'lhe Hostess,” by tho Chairman ; responded to by Mr Flaherty. Songs were given by Messrs Oldershaw, Carter, Gorrio, Ballantine, Lipscombe, Lucas, M'lvor and Clouston ; Mr J. P. Lucas playing tlio various accompaniments.

Tlio gist of the remarks by tire various speakers was tlio same as that on the previous Saturday, and fully reported by us in last Monday’s issuo Suffice is to say that a very pleasant evening was spent, the proceedings being brought to a close with a few verses of “ Auld Lang Syne ” about half-past ten. We arc sure that all who were present at the two gatherings referred to will bear happy reco lections of them many years honoe.

i NATIVE TEAM V. CHRISTCHURCH

| Per Press Association. CmusTCiiuriCji, July 21. t The match between the Native footbailers and Canterbury this afternoon was I played in the presence of about 3000 i persons, and ended in favor of the Natives | by a goal and two tries (5 points) to a goal 1 and a try (4 points). There was a fresh I easterly broezo blowing, which CanterI bury had t.ho advantage of in the first I spell; hut notwithstanding this, they had the worst of tho game, their opponents playing better together and with greater freedom. Tho Canterbury forwards did not soem ablo to hold them, consequently, tho local backs had not ranch to do boyond stopping combined and individual rushes and making a kick now and again. Canterbury played a man short all the second spell, Adock having ono of his ribs severely hurt. OTAGO HIGH SCHOOL v HOKIITKA. Per Tress Association. Hokitika, July 22. Tho return football match, Otago High .School against Hokitika, was won by the visitors by eight points to nil.