FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 7486, 26 May 1885, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

0 Hli I3TOHUROH v. WELLINGTON. The match between the Christchurch and Wellington Clubs at Nfcwtowli Pack yesterday attracted d large crowd of people* about a thoiioatid 61 both eexes tiding oh tile ground. The contest; which was a desperately fought and .exciting.one, resulted in favor of the Wellington Club, by two tries to nothing; Beswick captained the Christchurch men, and Webb the local team’. Cbristchurch, defending t.be western goal, kicked, off, and the play became at once fast and furious. The local team, however, bad all the best of it for the Brat ten minutes, and continually menaced their opponents’ territory. The game for some few minutes was confined to the forwards, who were very evenly matched, for while the Christchurch men were the heaviest, the local forwards played Well together; hnd with considerable dash. The .scene df play was shifted very soon to within the Chi ; htchurcH 25 yards. Fairbrother, after making a good run and doing some Useful kicking into touch, got ibe leather in the course of a loose scrimmage, and, running through the Christchurch backs, toiiched down within a few yards df the goal posts. The ball was placed for Robinson; who made a good attempt, which was marred by bad direction, and a “poster” resulted. The ball was kicked out, and after this the play wdi a little more even. The Wellingtons ran the ball down again, but their advantage was neutralised by a long drop by Cotterill, the Christchurch full back. Shortly afterwords H. Roberta showed out, doing some good dribbling, but the half-backs of the opposing side were on the look out, and by their judicious kicking saved a great deal of ground. Later on the Obriatdhurcli then came With a rush, and; one of their forwards kicking too hard, Wellington was forced dowU. A similar piece of bungling a few minutes afterwards also resulted in a force down. The ball was again kicked out, and the Wellington forwards followed up well. From a good way up the field H. Roberta made a dashing run through the Christchurch forwards with the ball at his toe, and was well shepherded by Hirsch* berg ; but Cotterill got possession first, and forced down; Nothing worthy of note occurred during the remainder of the spell, cxcspfc a g iod bullocky run by the Christ* church skipper, Beswick, who went through a lot of (ho Wellington forwards before he came down. At half time the ball was In the centre of the field. The second spell opened very sensationally. Webb kicked off, and G. Pearce, dashing through the Christchurch forwards, got the ball and ran straight in, touching down between the posts, and scoring the second try for Wellington. Fairbrother took the kick—a very easy one—but was unable to kick a goal. The visitors began to warm to their work after this, and had rather the best of it for the remainder of the spell. McDowell, at three-quarter back, did some good kicking, and stopped any amount of rashes. Palmer, a balLback, got possession of the leather from a mark, and ran to within a yard of the Wellington line before he was grassed by Robinson. From a rather awkward situation Wellington was relieved by H. Roberts, who made a short dodgy run, and by Fairbrother dropping it luto touch well up the field. The visitors, however, came again, and R. T» Roberta scut them back by kicking the ball nearly half way up the field. Here Shaw got the ball, and looked like getting in, but not being fast enough be passed to Webb, who lost a little ground. From a mark Fairbrother kicked out into the centre of the field, and H. Roberts, getting the ball, made a dash, but was unable to get in. After this the play was very even, the advantage resting alternately with either side, and when time was called the ball was in the centre of the field, Wellington’s score being two tries to nil. For the visitors, Beswick, Moir and Jewett did a lot of good bard work, the latter, in spite of want of condition, proving a very desperate and valuable forward ; while behind the scrimmages all worked well, kicking and running with great judgment. To the winning team Fairbrother wis almost invaluable, for time after time he gained ground for his side by his kicking into touch and brilliant runs. Hirschberg, Hume and H. Roberts also played very well, the latter’s unselfish and sure style singling ;bim out for frequent applause from the onlookers. Robinson, the fullback, bad little to do, bnl he waa equal to every demand made upon him. Among the forwards, Webb, Holmes, Pearce and Shaw were ]be most conspicuous.

MASTERTON v. UNIONS. The first fifteen of the Union Club journeyed to Masterton yesterday to meet an engagement with & light-weight team of the Masterton Club. The match was played on the Ova), where there is a fine football ground. O’Connor captained the Masterton team, and Jacka the visitors. Soon after the commencement o! the play, in consequence of some moiling by the Union backs, J. Perry got a try, which Brown did not succeed In converting into a goal. For the remainder of the spell the play was very even, and no further score was made. A few minutes after the opening of the second bout O'Connor got the ball, and Kilner, the Union back, being temporarily disabled, succeeded in scoring a try, the place for goal being nosnc* cessful. The Union backs were rather wild in their passing, and C, Perry was enabled to get the third try a few minutes later, James also scoring a try, The kicks at goal for both these tries were unsuccessful. Towards the end af the spell Kilner dashed In and touched down beneath the posts, but was called back by the umpire. No further score was made. Holmwood, C. Perry, and J. Perry were the most conspicuous players for the Masterton team. The Union backs were, with one or two exceptions, hardly up to their usual form; but among their forwards Hyland, Moan tier, Hill, and Loasby were the most noticeable. The Masterton Club being an exceedingly heavy one, the lightweight team is rather more weighty than the average of similar teams , and among them are some of the very best men in the Wairarapa —0. Perry, J. Perry (who played for Wellington against Auckland a season or two ago) and O’Connor, being names that have long been connected with representative teams.

The Wellington Star Club (a juvenile organisation) played a match at Masterton yesterday against the Masterton Eed Stars. The result was a win for the local team by a goal splendidly kicked from the field by Baumber, against a try obtained by Barnard.

It is said that by a recent discovery, much stronger and chaapar paper can be [made from the stalks aud stems of the tobacco plant than from wood.