FOOTBALL.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 13, 30 July 1895, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

GORE v MATATJRA. The third match between tha abovementioned teams was played on the Caledonian grounds, Gore, on Saturday last, and after an exciting contest, terminated in a draw, neither side having succeeded in scoring. The game was advertised to start at 3.15, but owing to the delay in the arrival of the visiting team it was after four before the ball was set in motion. The weather, from a footballers' point of view was perfect, the ground in tip-top condition and consequently a fast open game was looked for, and amply fulfilled all expectations. What the Mataura team lacked in weight they made up in agility, the play of the threequarters being a complete revelation to anyone witnessing their performance in the last match with Gore. In fact the whole team has improved wonderfully, and in many instances showed themselves better acquainted with the finer points of the game than Gore, although it may be noted they indulged in little or no passing. At any rate Mataura played throughout with great combination, and had Gore stuck together as well as they did, the result of the game would probably have been different. Rentiie, the visitors' juvenile full-back, h&s the makings of a great player in him. His coolness and judgment in kicking and taking the ball was a great contrast to the manner in which Martin acquitted himself. McLennan, the local three-quarter, as usual put in some sterling play all through the game, and was the means of stopping numberless rushes, although he was sadly deficient in passing tactics. Hume, too, played with preat dash, and, by bis dodgy sprints, gained 1 a lot of ground. The veteran, "JTred, Wallis, afcirted all the passing and kept bis backs fed from start to finish, Cameron, having won the toss, elected to i defend the western goal ; W&llis kicked off. The ball went out near tha blues' 25 flag, and Smith got away with it from the throw-in. This was followed by a good rush ' on the part of the visitois, and McLennan saved his side by kicking into touch. Wallis got tbe bill from a scrum, and passed to McLennan, who (jnisjied up a short run by a high kick of which tho home team took advantage and transferred the scene of action > to their opponents' quarters. Some off-aide play of the Gore forwards gave Mataura a fr.ee kick, and the ball again fell into the hands of JlcLannan, who carried it well up , the field and was neatly collared by Cameron, 1 The blues responded with a swapping rush, which was stopped by Smaill kicking out of bounds. The Gore citadel was in imminent i danger for some time, but eventually, the home forwards, beaded by Scott, broke away, and carried the ball to the half-way flag, where it went out of touch. Moloney took the ball from the throw-in, and passed to i McLennan, who sent it on to Hume, who, after a good run, was pushed out of bounds. Smail and Doigeach put in sorviceable runs, ' but could get no further than ithe opposi ing three quarters, who grassed eyery man who came near them. Gore were here '. awarjjßd :: a free kick. McLennan's attempt ' -vt.7, a. failure, and Mataura forced down " shortly afcerwarfla. Alter Mae kitfe-cuit, the E play hovered in the blues' territory for some time, and the strenuous efforts of the local men to score were rendered fruitless by the ' sure collaring of the visitors, Mataura got ) on a good rußh, and oarried the ball past [ Martin, at f nil-back, but Humo eama to the , rescue and prevented a likely score by a flying kick. Gora got another free kick 1 close to tbe 25 flag, McLennan's attempt l being a repetition of the former one. The i play at this juncture became most exciting, and resulted in Mataura being again forced. Half-time was then called. > Tha second spell opened very lively, both I teams playine all they knew. Moloney r having retired through a kick in the ribs. Gore played a man short. The blues got on another dribbling rush, and, Martin mul- ' ling *he ball, th6y looksd like scoring, but i a forcedown only was registered. Mataura, ) however, were not to be denied, as through the agency of Carroll (who was playins the best forward game on the ground) they pressed their opponents b ck to within six . feet of the line, but could not score. Gore retaliated by a pretty bit of passing among 1 the backs, and soon had tbe visitors panned " in. A timely kick nullified this advantage, I and the game remained in neutral territory i for gome time. Smaill got possession of the leather, and after he was collared passed to Scott, who got well down the field. Mac--1 gregor made the run of tha day, and got E through all tho home Mcks, but was r eventually collared by Martin, The visitors I commenced to attack in groat style, and |i:ept Gore busy defending their lines for a ' considerable time, and the home team were ' obliged to forhn d"wjj, The play from ■ tbencn on to the finish Was without incident l (except perhaps that McLennan" bj]rpt'°£ha ball with a too vigorous kick), and the same ' finished as above-stated, just as darkness batan to obliterate the forms ot tho opposing teams, ' Mr Burnside acted as referea in an i impartial manner, although he was not very i conspicuous for promptitudo in giving his decisions. ' For' the yisitors Rennje at full back, the three thren-quartersi Jeft'ery. Carroll, Shanks ■ and Palmer all did yeoman service j whi)^ I Hume, McLennan, Wallis and Smaill in thja [ back department and Greiff, Ennia and i Maloney in the forward, shone up con' spicuously for Gore, the latter especially put* 1 ting in some sterling line work.

in their match against Town (Invercargill) to be played at Gore on Wednesday week:—Fullback, McGregor (Mataura) ; three-quarters, Miller (Lumsden), McLennan and Hume (Gore) ; half-backa. Cam ron (Mataura) and - Wallis (Gore) ; wings, Greig (Gore) and T. Smith (Mataura) ; forwards, Ennis, R. and P. Scott (Gore), Carroll, To wnshend, Shank?, and G. Palmer (Mataura). Emergencies : back, Smaill ; forward, J. Dickson. The above team is requested to meet at Knight's Hotel at 1 30 p.m. on the day of the match.