FOOTBALL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 139, 2 July 1888, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

COMBINED FIFTEEN V. UNIONS.

(By Omega.^

A team comprised of bankers, lawyers, and the commercial fraternity were to have tried their football powers with a representative Union fifteen m Parker's paddock, on Saturday last, but owing to some of the former failing to put m an appearance, the required number was made up with members from the Marlborough F.C. The game, however, proved very interesting, though the combined team were rather over-matched m the forward . play. Mclver captained the. Unions (reds), De Castro having the combined' team (blues) under, his command. Mclver won the toss, and chose to work with a slight N.W. wind, which increased m force as the game proceeded. At the outset the blues were hard pressed. Mclver potted at goal, with, the result that the blues were forced down. Compact, scrummaging followed. Ballantyne secured the oval, and kicked into the blues' quarters. From this point, until three parts of the spell was over, the play became more even, after which time W. Eedwood, by a good run, placed the ovate behind the blues' goal line. 'Fulton was entrusted with the kick at goal, but with j no beneficial result. Pasley had a good run after the kick out, and Ballantine, m return, landed. the ball m the blues' 25's. closed the first^ spell. Much faster' •relay was witnessed m the second, though 'Neither side scored. For the first quarter of an hour the blues held out a stout de- ! fence against the attacks of the opposing forwards, but had to give way, the reds compelling them to fall back to their 25' fe peg. Pasley, after a run, passed to Gaukrodger, who carried the oval to the^ reds' territory. The Unions entered their opponents' 25's, and subsequently necessitated them forcing down: Close play ensued, the blues eventually reaching the reds' quarters. Buiek and Eedwood changed the scene of action, Gauforodger relieving his side by a brilliant run. Shepherd had a good dribble, and De Castro returned to centre-field. The red forwards again gained access to their antagonists' 25's, but a punt by Clark more than equated matters. Thompson, seizing the oval, dodged past all his opposers but. Clark and Gaukrodger, the latter player overturning him just as he was about to score; and, picking up the oval, he kicked to neutral ground. The reds once more placed their adversaries on the defensive, but not for long, for Pasley managed to dispense with the difficulty. Successive scrummages were formed on the boundary of the blues' territory. A subsequent rush confined the play to the reds' stronghold. When a little even play had been gone through, Fulton endeavoured to get m, but was retarded by Gaukrodger. Hale alleviated the blues by .g-good dribble. Ballantyne put forth all '^s energy to increase the reds' score, and should have attained his desire, had it not been for the prompt tackling of Gaukrodger. The blues finally cleared their lines, the referee announcing time as play was being taken to even ground. Messrs Horton and Gentry umpired for the blues and reds respectively, Mr Pasley performing the duties of referee,