FOOTBALL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8834, 14 July 1905, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

OAMARU v. ATHLETIC. After some consideration yesterday morning, it was decided to play this fixture, despite the elements, and the game was got off in the rain on a ground which was well soaked. The tendency of such conditions is generally to even up the chances, and it was expected that the Athletics would push their opponents hard. Such expectations were, however, hardly realised, for the Oamaru team, every man playing at the top of his form, ran up 14 points in the first spell. The opening play was surprising on so wet a ground, for the Yellow backs handled the ball with confidence until such time as it became too heavy to throw about. The Athletics played without Mullin, King playing full-back, with Hunter on one wing and Flynn on the other. Turner was not in his place amongst the Oamaru backs, and Falconer tilled the gap. Soon after the start the Athletics were penalised close to their line, and Mollison kicked a goal. Soon after, Sutherland obtained the ball from a serum in the Maroons' twenty-five, and beating several opponents, handed it on to Hanley, who got over at the corner, scoring a try from a good piece of work. The kick was not successful. It was not long before fumbling among the Athletic backs got their side into trouble, the Oamaru forwards following up a high kick and smothering the return. A-scramble ensued on the line, from which Crawshaw got over between the posts, Mollison kicking au easy goal. Before half-time Sutherland, also, had found his way across the line, making the total for the spell 14 points. Soon after the second spell started, Toohey, who had played splendidly up to that time, strained himself, and the Yellows had to continue minus a particularly useful back. The Oamaru forwards, therefore, kept the game close, and a series of scrums, varied only by line-out work, ensued, both packs playing a hard game. The Athletics, realising the necessity of scoring quickly, began to push matters and not without result, a neat exhibition of passing allowing Taylor to score. Again, from a scramble among the forwards, the Yellows were unable to keep their opponents out, and a try was registered, but in neither case was the score enhanced, and the game concluded with the points standing: Oamaru 14, Athletic 6. . As for the players, the whole Oamaru team showed to advantage, Forsyth and D. Taylor, and Sutton, Sutherland and Toohey all showing their best form. King played a safe game at full-back for the Athletics, while Curran and Hay were good throughout, Clark, Patterson and Scott being the pick of the forwards. Altogether the spectators, surprisingly numerous on such a day, were well recompensed for the discomfort which they underwent.