FOOTBALL. (By Dribbler.)

North Otago Times, Issue 7176, 26 June 1891, Page 3

FOOTBALL. (By Dribbler.)

There was a good attendance of the lovers of football present on the North Road ground yesterday, at the Athletic-Excelsior match, and there were also a number of ladies. The game was rather a one-sided one, the colors having decidedly the best of it from start to finish, although once or twice the Athletic goal was in danger, but the Excelsiors were nearly all the time engaged defending their lines from the strong rushes of the colors' forwards, who one and all played a good game, C. and J. Grant, D. M'Ghie, Boreham, Connolly, and Waddell showing prominently in the loose rushes, while in the backs H. Johnstone was applauded again and again for his smart running, kicking, and picking up. Hurst played a good game at halfback, but should pass quicker to his centre, who in turn should do the same to h's wing three quarter. Glass was perfectly safe at full-back, and put on some very good kicks indeed. The Excelsiors were inferior to the colors both in backs and forwards, the weight of the former telling iv the scrums. Jno. M'Laren, Dixon, Ogilvie, and Grave showed up prominently in the forwards, and Procter was the pick of the backs, although ? their speedy three-quarter (M'Glue) made some good and effectual runs. Power at half-back plays too much off-side, but Hinton promises to develop into a good half. Maxwell at full-back played a good game, and saved his side i many a time by his well-judged and long i kicks. The Athletics were captained by Hurst, and the Excelsiors by M'Laren. Hurst won the toss and defended the southern goal. Ogilvie started play, and the leather was carried to Excelsiors' 25, and after some give-and-take play, J. Grant scored near the corner flag, but the kick at goal was a failure. From the kick out the ball was once more in Excelsiors' 25, and Procter saved his side repeatedly by his smart and useful punts into touch, a,nd aftei some uninteresting play iv Excelsiors' quarters H. Johnston got the leather and streaked for the line, and got over at the corner. Hurst failed to negotiate the try. From this to the end of half-time the Athletics had the best of the game, the ball only once being in their 25, and no further score was made. On changing ends play centred, and was carried to Athletics' 25, but Glass sent it back to centre again. Handballs from the throw in were very frequent, and the game was consequently slow. After some good rushes by the colors the leather rested in Excelsiors' 2&, and Hurst getv ting possesf-ion passed to 11, Johnston, who sent it over the bar by a nice kick. Ogilvie kicked oft, and a scrum was formed in Athletics' 25, but the colours' forwards were not to be denied, and the Excelsiors were shortly after forced down. Play again started, a loobe rush

ci the Athlaur fortfftfda dnded in C, Grant scoring, from which Glftsa placed a splendid goal. Pi iy centtod after the kick out, ,uid sonic »<>od work was done by tho fcrwauU i.f l)i)th sides, M'Laren and Riddell savi.i^; their side nicely, until from a throw -in the colors carried tho ball over the line, and D. M'Cihic scored, no goal resulting. The game was now vt'iy fast at times, and a free kick to tho blues was token by L-twson, bub was futile. The leather now travelled to Excelsiors' 25, where, from a looso rush, the lively fonvird of the colors (Connelly) scored, and the try at goal by (xlass, though a good one, was rcsultless. There was no further score till the finish, and victory rested with the Athletics by 10 points to u>l. Messrs Burns and Farquharsou acted as touch-line judges, and Mr W. (Ircnfell gave every satisfaction us referee.