Football.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 166, 23 July 1896, Page 3

Football.

SOUTHLAND REPS. v. EASTERN .. PISTIUCT. Yesterday the first visit of an iutmprovincial team to Gore was made, when the Southland rep*, playd their first of a scries of matches in different parts of the colony, against an Eastern District team, composed of players from the Gore, Mataura and Riversdale clubs. Great interest was evinced in the match by football enthusiasts throughout tho district, so much so that, despite the extreme coldness of the weather and the discomforts of a strong wind, a large number of spectators, including a great many . of th? fair sex, were present to wituess the . '''match, not so much with the expectation of V- seeing a close game as to judge of -the-merits of the rep. team. Jenkins captained the town men and Moloney the other side. In the first spell the town men defended the Eastern gaol, tbus'having the advantage of the strong wind blowing. The miroons (5.8. F.U.) at once assumed the aggressive, . but tho game had progressed some time before N. Mcßobie and Jenkins got on a rush, which resulted in the latter, after a good run, scoring near the', posts, from which D. ' Mcßobie failed'' to kick a goal. .Soon after ' the kick out, the, colors (Eastern. District) got on a forward rush, ahd play was for some time in the maroons' twonty-nve, but good kicking by their backs and' short rushes by their forwards, aided by poor kickiug by the . colors' full-back, again put the latter on the :' defensive, and, from a scrum on tho colors' line, the ball came out to Jenkins and was passed across to Bain, who got over the line, but no goal resulted. Doig's kick out was returned by Manson to the corner flag, and almost immediately afterwards the colors were forced down. Some exciting play occurred on the colors' line, several of thfopposing side, getting over, but, ow ing to the good defensive'play of the colors, were unable to get thjs leather down on the ground. G. Cameron an.dß. MacGregor got on a rush, and shifted the Way to' the centre, Moloney earring it on stjll further through a short • run and a kick idto touch. A free kick to the maroons again brought play inßide the colors' tweniy-five, and Royds got over the line, but was collared before he could touch down. Soon after, McLennan saved his side in a ' most apprqyed manner from what seemed to be it-certain score, and the colors' V were forced down twice in quick succession. -Some interesting play followed in mid-field, and, from a neat 'pass from Bain, Hirst secured the ball, and scored tbe third try for the maroons. Fiom this to the end of thr spoil the maroons had the bo3t of the gams, but were unable to.increase their score. Tho second spell had hardly started before Jenkins registered his second try for the maroons after a capital dribblo. From the kick out, the colors had for a time thp best.of the play, and Manson, through bad passing, lost the maroons a lot of grouud. which was quickly taken advantage of by the colors, who placed the maroons on the defensive, but not for long, the ball being gradually worked back to the colors' twentyfive, aud Purdue got over. Soon after, the ball, was passed to Bain, who scored. Great excitement then prevailed, the colors havinp the maroons penned for some time close to the Hdc, but, despito strenuous efforts to score, tho former were unable to do so. Mnrtin having at one timo a splendid opening, but mulling a good pass from Flanagan. A free kick to the maroons shifted play to the twenty-five, and the game was very even for some time, till Boyds and Mcßobie got pn a rattling dribble, wbich resulted in the former scoring. From this to the end of th' spell, the colors had, if anything, the best oi the game, but no further Eoore was nude. Scores — Maroons, 21 points ; colors, nil. Great disappointment was felt in the exhibition of the game given by the rep. team : in fact their play was a long way inferior to that shown in the recent match Gore v. Star by the latter club on the same ground. True, the wind .to some extent militated against good passi'-i. hut good chances of scorinp were thrown away again and again. Certain it is tbat their comhination was very weak indeed, and io have any chance with other provinces a great improvement will have to be shown. Rallingshaw at full-back playpd fairly well. Hirst and Bain performed creditably on the~witt#," -particularly the former. Manson, in the centre, was quite at home except in passing, which he does not seem to knew much about. Jenkins was the best of the hai yes, and played a rattling game ; in fact, he is the maimtay of the back division of the team. Of the forwards, it must be- said that their play did not come up to -their reputation. Time and again thp colors beat them in the scrums, particularly in the first spell, and in other points of thp game, except passing, the rep. forwards were I eat deal ahead of their opponents, ras the best forward on the maroon . next to him may be ranked Purdue, Martin and Donnld a on, tbe latter illy brilliant on a dribbling rush, astern District team played a really , defensive game, and deserve the credit for the stand they made, llaring was of the highest order, and in no small degree to keep the score In thi3 respect, the team was greatly Dned by the inclusion of Burrows tin. On several occasions the colors bin an ace of scoring, and had they with more dash when near their ts' line, they would most certainly :orcd. McLennan played well at t others only medium. Martin, on „', collared in rare stylo, and the way in which he stopped Hirst from scoring in the second spell was ths best bit of collaring of tho day. C. MacGregor. on the other wing, also played well, and stopped some very awkward rushes in the nick of time. Doig, in the centre, was of invaluable service to his side, and played one of hi 3 best games this season. G. Cameron aud B. MacGregor formed a pair of useful five-eighths, and repeatedly nipped in the bud passes which if allowed to be got would have increased their opponents' score. Of the forwards Moloney showed up conspicuously, and was good in all departments of the game ; of the others Allman and Burrows were about the best, although all must bo given credit for the really good gama they played against a team of forwards with such a reputation as the Southland reps. Mr J. E. Taylor's decisions as referee were never questioned, and Messrs R. Galbraith \ and W. Baker gave satisfaction as line -■ '•'umpires.