FOOTBALL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 128, 1 June 1891, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

**■■'"' r> ?i J [Bt«KULB4S."] They Senior Cv» matoh .on Saturday Nelwitf f-hloh. wwi considered a moral for the last ou^winnen, proved a complete * boil over,' as tbe Nelson team, to the surprise of even themselves, scored an easy victory. Both teams were niuoh below last season's form, being weakened by the loss of many veterans from their rankß. Within a few minutes after tbe start of the game a foolish piece of off-side play on the part of the Albfons gave the Blues a peunlty kiok,of which Harper took full advantage by placing a neat goal. This unexpected turn was ooneidered a mere elioe of luok, and by no means a sign of viotory, as on kioking off the Albione rußhed the ball across the Kelson line, and Da vies being first to surround it scored a try for thu Reds. Bird's kiok at a difficult angle was a failure, as were also two ' pots ' by the same player, and a free kiok by Menary, whioh, however, was a good attempt and narrowly escaped ucuring. Then, however, the scene was changed and from ' that time forward the game was almost entirely Nelson's own. Harper was soon peppering the other goal, for a long plaoe kiok landed just below the bar, and when after Bomu heavy work in the Reds' 26, Shallorass got on to tbe ooveted line, his skipper readily oonverted the try into a goal. The ohief features of the first spell were the oloso dribbling aud smart collaring of ihe Nelsou forwards who invariably carried the sorums, the rapid rushes of their Albion opponeuts, aud the reokleas passing of their halves, whioh gave the Blues a decided advantage, MoArtney and Bird, who wero a bit off colour, were the only Red baoks who played a saving game. At half-time the score stood at 5 points to 1. From the very commencement of the (second spell the Blaee pressed their opponents extremely hard, for, aioed oy the telling kicks of Harper, Gully, ana ©add, the forwards wero soon in Red territory, where Riley specu* lated unsuccessfully, and his example wbb afterwards too often followed. Then a smart pass from Bballorass, who was playing the game, gave Gully a chance. This young three quarter, who had hitherto seemed rather out of his element, luokiug dash, uud inclined to bang baok, sow woke op to the occasion and fairly outpaced the field, Harper, whose sorew-puniing and plauekioking were remarkably good, again plttced » difficult goaL The Albions weie now getting ground down (the whole ttam wantiug combination), although Bird aud Outer made desperate efforts to olear their lines. The latter showed plenty of pace, bnt is too apt to tan baok or uorosa the Held. Walker, who was a saving help at half, next brought down the house by ouuuingly carrying the ball through the scrimmage and touching down near the corner post. Harper's luok did not desert him even here, for although he could only just land tbe ball on the top of the bar it came off on the right side and another goal resulted, bo that the game finally Btood at 11 points to one.

At the obuoiusiuu ol the game it was almost too dark to tte the bull, bo that iv future tbe Management Committee nuouid enforce tue tuie re beginning to lime. Although the game was very fast throughout and exoiiing at times, it nas oontualed in a friendly BPtiii, je» » word of warning is by no means out of place. The ejnouiavious ot oeitain players weiu not always expressed in OJioioe language, ana iv one instanoe an uncalled-for growi dbseivedly brought down b severe osnsure from the Beieree. The captain of a team should ten! that he is iesponAibie tor the behaviour of his nieu, ana if tliey are not thoroughly under oonttol iv (bis tea* eot, iheie is little proajeot of good combined play nnder his mattagem»ni. As lliis was tbe fixßt big mittob of the ceaHon, tbe want of. conainou baUßjed by both sides Is uot unaooouutuble, but we hope to see this temeoied by next matob. < The winning' tedm'are to be congratulated on the pretty game they played, aud especially on the fact, that no glaring mistake uaa made, Besidea the forwards Harper and Hhallorasa ueeetVo sptoittl uuiuuieuaation, Tue result of this match will lead us to look forward to the next Nelson v. Alberts with keunes interest, sinoe the knowing out* have hitherto oonsiderea the latter thb favourites for the Cup and Nelsun out of ihu running, - Tiie nse of the latter term calls to mind a danger to whioh Rugby lootball ib exposed. Last season we had painful evidenoe that some who call themselves footballers, will use any means, fair ot foul, to secure a win. The cause iB not far to seek, An article in Friday 'b issue on Association football in Euglanu should be a warning to nil upholders of our national game. May Rugby football never reaoh the depth to whioh it is Baid the ABsooiation game at Home has fallen.— 11 A. flue game; played chiefly by roughs lor luoie, and those who take an interest in it do bo because they have something ou 1"