FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6351, 20 June 1882, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

DUNEDrN AND UnIOX SECOND FIFTEENS.

There was another large gathering of spectators on the Union ground on t Saturday, when the Dunedin and Union Second Fifteens met to try conclusions. The juniors had much better weather than their senior brethren were favoured with. _ The ground was not all that could be desired, but many a good match has been fought out under leas favourable conditions. There was great diversity of opinion as to the relative merits of the teams, the Dark Blues being-, perhaps, the favourites. One well-known Blue thought it a moral for his side, but aa the fates would iave it, his. calculations, like those of many of the knowing ones, were upset. Cargill and Haskell captained the respective sides. The former winning- the toss elected to,defend the north goal, and Haskell kicked off. After a little drop-kicking- by.the backs, Aitken made a brilliant run into the Blues! twenty-five, where Edmonds sent ■ him into touch. After the throw-out the Blues, by a good rush, carried the ball into " no man's ground," where Haskell and Adams stopped lurther progress. For fully 20 minutes after, the fight wavered from end to end, Liwson and Sl'Grcgor (forward), Cook, Carglll, and Fulton (back) doing excellent'service for their side. The scrummages for a time were exceedingly well contested, but gradually the Colours forced their opponents back, and jSdams, getting hold of the leather, made a useful run, finishing up with a short kick. Aitken and M'fntyre then took up the running, and worked the ball close up to the Blues' line, where Hunter made one of his brilliant dashes and passing tho Blues' backs, took the ball over 'the line, sc ring try No. 1 for the Colours.. Jl'lntyre, tho be3t all - round man on his side, placed a very neat goal, his feat being greeted with loud cheer.ii" and tossing- up of hats. Cargill soon had the ball •in play again, and Cooke made a capital run into the Colours' twenty-five, - but could not get past Scott, who tackled his men well throughout. A good (leal of scrumjnaging then followed, the Blues making desperate efforts. to force-their opponents' lines, but all to no purpose—Kroon, Spencer, Fraser, and the two Hendersons.being quite unpassable. Cooke and Cargill were specially noticeable by their efforts to get a pot shot, but Scott, Adams, and Aitken were quite up to the game, and pounced on them continually. No further score was made till half time. Goals were chauged, and then the Blues had a warm time of it. The Union forwards carried everything before them, their opponents, bar Lawsou, Honkman, and ll'Qregor, and the backs seeming quite paralysed. After some very warm play on th« Blues' twentyfive on the. west Bide. the ball was thown out from touch; It waa passed smartly to Adams, who, by a really fine Jeft-foot drop-kick, placed a second goal to the Colours' credit. Matters were indeed looking blue for the Blues, and their supporters began to give tongue, which had a good effect, Cooke, Lawson, and Mallard playing brilliantly, while Fulton earned well-merited applause by-the gallant manner in which he met and stopped the ceaseless rushes of ihe Cslocri:1 forwards. The Colours,'however, were playing, as several persons expressed it, like "demons," 6tuJ in a few minuted Haskell unselfishly passed toStisperie, who was over the line in no time placing the ball close .to the posts. Jt'lntyre placed another good goal to the Colours' credit, i'hence till time the Colours had matters pretty well their own way, foreioj? the Blues down several tim«s. Haikell mi.de a brillia ,t run, and Spencer obtained a mark, but although M'lntyre made a Bplendid kick the distance wa3 rather long. No further Bcore was made, the game thus resulting in a win for the Union by three goals to nil. Taken all round, the play of the Union team wa3 quite a tresr, to witness ; they cer-' tainly played one of the best ;-;ames ever seen on the ground. The Dunedin tea:n had not the combination of their opponents, and although Ccoke, Lawson, and Cargill did yeomen's service, they could not do all. I am only expressing the general opinion in stating that Fulton is fit to represent any team, and that his back play was unequalled on the ground. "'■ - '■ .'- ■•■'.. Forward.