FOOTBALL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 125, 29 May 1893, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SENIOR CUP.

NELSON V. PRINCE ALBERTS.

(By Spec.)

Tho first match for the Senior Cap was played in the Park on Saturday afternoon between teams representing' fhe above olabs. Although the weather was beautifully fine, the ground waa in rather a soft condition, and on the north Bide there was a good Heal of w.iter. The attendance of spectators was larger th^n at any previous m>tch this seaajn, aad great iuterfst was shown ia the game. It was generally expected that the Nelsoa t3«n would have a walk over, and the result of (he match wa3 a gn at surprise. Neither cub was able to pi; cs its best te <m in the field, Preshaw and Djacker being abseut on the Nelson side, while the Alberts wcro without Parnett and Simmonds. The game was well contested throughout, and neither side had any material advantage. The forwards were about evenly matched, and had plenty to do, the game being mostly a forward one.

Nehon won the toss and elected to defend the western goal. Clear kicked off. and Harper returned to Ba -ltrop, who sent the ball to Levien. The latter marked, and kicked the ball hti touch. Clear received the ball from the throw-oat, and made a short kick to Thompson, who returned into tmch. A scrum followed the throw-oat, from whioh Shallcrassgotthe ball and made a good mn, which took play near the Albeit goal line. The ball remained ia Albert territory for some time, bat by a series of scrums it was worked to centre field. Harper by a kick sent the ball into the 25 again, Levestsm returning into toncb. From the throw-out the ball wbb passed to Harper, who made a good run, and k eked to Barltrop, the latter sending the bill into touch. Thompson made a smart run, but Barltrop regained the ground by a long kick, Harper returned to Nesbitr, who made a telling run. A rush by the Albert f ■rwßtia took the tall into the Nelson 25, wbere Nesbitt and Simpson, both made good runs. Soully got a mark and cleared the Nelson «ne. Birltrop returned to Tnomp* f on, who kicked into touch. Nelson rushed the bail from the throw-out, and the Alberta retaliated with another which took the ball to centre field. Shortly after Sigley got a mark, and Harper made an urßnccessfal attempt at goa), the Alberts beiDg forced down. Nesbitt kirkrd out, sending the ball into touch. Nelson were awnrded a Ires kick, aid Hstpei sent the ball to Birltrop, who returned it, Harper kicking into toncb. From a tcrnin Le?ien secured the ball and pass) d to Harper, wLo had a pot at goal. The lal) failed to rise, pada lone down wu the rtsnlt, Keabitt lucked oat (o Super,

the ball being returned to Ntsbitt. who mode a splendid run, Lf-vien collaring him and kicking the ball into touch. N-sbitt immediately after made another good run, hav ; pg secured the ball from a pas?, play being now in Nelsou 25. Johnson ma k d and kicked t> Thomson, who gained a lob of ground by a lorp kick to Nesbitt. Ruds by Bethwaite and Nesbitt took the ball agaiu to Nelson 2*, where the Alberts were awarded a free kick, a Nelson man hiving picked the ball up in scrum. Barltrop made a splendid kick r.t goal, tut the ball fell short. Harper made a loDg k : ck down the field. Barltrop returnirg. For off-side play Nelson had a free kick and Hurp>r kicked into touch. From tho throw-out a eorom was formed, md the Alberts made a good rush to the 25 fig, where play remained till half-time wne eounded.

Harp?r started the second Fpell, sending the ball to S ; mppon, who returned to Harper, the A'beits being forced down by a long kick from the latter. Kesbitt kicked out, Thompson returniog to touch. Clear made a couple of good rues, which gained a lot of ground, but a rush of the Nelson forwards, headed by Woodward and Sadd, and a kick by Harper, neutralised matters. By a series of scrums and shoit runs the Alberts brought the ball to mid field, but Thompson securing the ball made a long kick well up the field, Levestam returning into tiuch. The Alberts rushed the ball from the tbrow-out, bnt spoilt their obanoe by hard kicking. Harper secured the ball acd made a long run, pissing to Lorimer, who in turn pissed back ag in to Harper, but the latter was brought down before be could get away. The Alberts worked the ball down the field again, but Thompson, with a splendid run, carried trie ball to within a few feet of the goal lino. The Alberts cleared their line with a good rush, and kicks by Barltrop and Bethwaite took the ball to the oth<r end of the field. A hard kick by an Albert forward seuttha bill over the line, mid Whitehorn saved. Harper kicked out, but failed to send the ball pv.st the 25 flag, ard a sorum was form 1 d in mid - field. From the forum Clear made a short run, and the Albert forwards rushing, the ball, through hard kicking, was sent over the line, Nelson being forced down. Harper took the kick out, and sent the ball to Barltrop, who returned the ball into touch. A run by Barltrop and a rush by the Albert forwards took play into Nelson' 3 25, but a free kick enabled Harper to send the ball well up the ground, Levestam returning into touch at centre-field. Play remained about the centre of the field for some time, the Alberts eventually getting on a rush. They spoilt their chance, however, by offside play, Nelson being awarded a free kick, itarper sent the ball to Simpson, the latter running a short distance and passing to Nesbitt, who made an excellent run, being sent into touch at the 25yflag. Shortly after the Alberts were awarded a free kick, and Barltrop made another good attempt at goal, but the distance was too long, and the ball fell short. Harper returned to centre -field, where the Alberts had another free kick, but little came of it, the ball going into touch, and from the throw out a series of touch-line scrums followed until the call of time. The came thus ended in a draw, no score having ueen made by either side. Among the Neteoa back?, Shallcrass and Thompson were most conepicuoup, the former making some gocd runs and kuking and ool'a icg well, nrd the latter running and kicking in five style. Levien blfo did tome good work. Harper was in nothing like his usual form, but nevertheless he showed some good play. Woodward, Sidd, Clouston, and Bolton shone in the forwards. For the Alberts, Ncsbitt and Clear plajed a splendid back game, the former being well ltd by the halves. Bethwaitr, Levestam, and Barltrop also played well^the latter's kicking beiug much admired, Strawbridge, H. Clear, Lipscouibe, and Graham pl>yed an exoelleut game sb forward?. Messrs Infield ard Wbitehorn noted as touch-line umpires, ard Mr Littlejohn bs referee, the latter's decisions being given with h : s usual impartiality.

Saturday was the first occasion for many years that the Prince Albert Club's senior team has been without the services of Hargreaves, who has been a prominent member of the Club since its formation . Sincere regret has been expressed by all footballers at his unfortunate accident.

Next Saturday the Riwaka and Albion Olubs will meet in the Park to contest for the Junior Cup. If the former are in anything like the form they were on Wednesday a good game may be looked for.