FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7541, 19 April 1886, Page 4

FOOTBALL

Dunedin Club,

The second match of the season engaged in by the members of the Dunedin Club was played on the Pirates' ground on Saturday. The sides were captained by Mills and Austin, and the latter side won after a spirited contest by nine points to six. On Austin's side the scoring was done by Stepheusou and Harper. Home, Fitzgerald, and Montgomery got tries for the winning side. Several of last year's players and a few new men did good work. Among the forwards on either side, Martin, G. Butterworth, Mill, Harper, Barton, Horae, Jackman, and Montgomery were most conspicuous. The two first-mentioned played with a good deal of brilliancy at times. Of the others, Montgomery was about the best, and if he plays through the season as he has begun ho should gain his mterprovincial cap this year. Harper is fast and rather a difficult man to stop, but is not quite up to the Rugby rules yet. Barton proved himself a good stayer, but is not quick at taking advantage of a good position, and passes when too near his own goal. Stepheusun, at three-quarter-back, is a'ready iv fine form, and if he keeps up his present standard he should give a good deal of trouble to opposing backs this season. Fitzgerald is also a promising three-quarter-back—very fast and a good dodger—but he has still a good deal to learn about the ins and outs of the game. Of the other backs, Onslow Fulton played best, his kicking and collaring being really good. He is certain to have a place in the First Fifteen this year. The other halfback will probably be selected from Loudon, H. Butterworth, and Smith. The game on Saturday was a thoroughly enjoyable one, and it is evident that the Club will have a fair fifteen for the present winter. Some of the new men have a good deal to learn; and on Saturday afternoon the gallant captain might have been seen hovering on^the outskirts of the scrummage keeping a watchful eye on the erring ones. Under his experienced tuition they are sure to make good progress. Next Saturday the match will be Fifteen v. Club, and there will be practice matches on the Caledonian ground every Wednesday evening at 5 o'clock.

POSTBH

Union Club.—The match ou Saturday was A to H (maroon) against I to Z (colours). The former numbered 24, and thu latter 22. The play from the beginning to the finish of the game was very fast, and the players showed a great improvement on the previous Saturday's form. In the first spell the Colours, led by the veteran Wyinks, made several determined attempts to break through the Maroons' lines, but were well met by the splendid collaring of their opponents' backs. The Colours in the second spell made a poor stand against the Maroons, who, playing downhill, had the game in their own hands. Tries were scored by T. Henderson (2), J. Hutchinson, and T. Hunter, from one of which Bee placed I a neat goal. Gordon also placed a good goal from one of the tries, but was unsuccessful in another attempt, and Fraser failed to raise the score from the last try. Bee potted a goal in first-class style, and shortly after Fraser placed the leather over the bar, but the goal was rlisallowed on the ground that the ball was " dead."

The game ended iv a wiu for the Maroons by 18 points to nil. The chain enclosing the field of play was completed in time to be useful for Saturday's game in keeping the public back from amongst the players. With the aid of the enclosing chain, games will be much more enjoyed in the future.

Pirates.—On Saturday the Pirates played their annual match, Scotch v. English. As usual, this proved one of the best of the scratch matches, and drew together 25 players a side. As the afternoon was very fine and the ground in splendid order, a very fast game ensued, which resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. A marked improvement was noticeable in the play both' of the backs and the forwards; and special mention may be made of Montgomery, Austin, Bowler, and IJraser (backs), and Pyke, Cantrell, A. W. Morris, Wales, Mollison, Strong, Matheson, and especially Ronaldson (forwards). The passing at times was rather wild, and players would do well to study the remarks on this subject in last year's "O.R.F.U. Annual."

Montecillo Club.—The Club's match, a Fifteen against the Club—which was played on Saturday resulted in a win for the Fifteen by three tries'to nil, the play during the first spell being pretty even. Noel scored the first try for the Fifteen, but through one of the Club's backs fumbling the ball, no goal resulted from the kick. The Club's forwards following well up a the kick-ofi in the second spell, the game centred in the Fifteen'stwenty-fivefor some time. Gorman, Isaacs, and Shepard tried very hard to score, but were well stopped by the good play of the Fifteen's backs. The ball was gradually worked down towards the Club's line, and Cooper getting hold of it scored again for the Fifteen.

The kick at goal again proved a failure, Noel obtaining possession of the leather soon after the kick-off from the twenty-five, and got another try for the Fifteen. Cooper, S. Leith, Cowie, Noel, Isaacs, Gorman, Shepard, Beck, and Morley worked very hard for their respective sides. The Kaikorai Club played a match Captain v. Deputy on Saturday. The game ended in a win for the former by 11 points to five, a result due mainly to the more frequent passing on the part of the Captain's team. For the winners T. Sonntag scored one try, W. Eliott two, and Wedderspoon, after a splendid run from his own twenty-five, scored one, which was converted into a goal by Douglas. The only try for the Deputy's side was secured by Smith, and converted into a goal by C. Davy. Besides those mentioned, Keogh aud J. Elliott (backs) and Armit and Dick (forwards) also showed up well for their respective sides.

The Caversham Club played a scratch match, Captain v. Deputy. Mr Duncan, vice-president of the club, kicked off. The game was very fast, eventually resulting in a win for the captain's side by two goals and one try to two goals (12 points to 10). Some very good play was shown by Stevenson, Cochran, Bremner, Williamson, and Lang. The tries for the winning side were gained by 0. Briggs, Bremner, and French, and the goals kicked by Lang and Rutherford. For the losing side Doull and A. Briggs gained the tries, while J. Stevenson kicked both goals. The match Excelsior v. Imperial Second resulted in a win for the former by one point (five points to four). The try was gained by J. Watson, from which J. Laing kicked a goal. There were one or two spectators on the ground who could very well have been done without.