FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7648, 23 August 1886, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Otago Rugby Footisall Union Tkial Match.

As there was no prospect of having a good game on any of tho Dunedin. grounds on Saturday, tho Rugby Union Committee decided to

proceed to Mosgiel and play the second tria. match on the Taieri Club's ground, which was in very fair order. Accordingly a special train was chartered, and the two teams with 120 supporters of the game left the Duuedin railway station at 2 p.m. On arriving at Mosgiel it was found that the weather was fine, and no time was lost in making a start. James Allan captained a strong team of Blues, and Drabble led the Colours. The game was very closely contested for some time after the start, the opposing forwards being pretty evenly matched as regards weight; but gradually the Blues, by superior style of play, combined with the good running and kicking of then? backs, put the Colours on the defensive. At length Fraser made a fine run in the Colours' twenty-five down and across tho field, and on being tackled

he passed to Ross, -who was over the line in a twinkling, thus making the first score for the Blues. The try at goal was not successful. There wus no further score in the first spell, though Treseder got over the line once but had to submit to a call back by the umpires. In the second spell Bee, who had made several attempts to pot a goal, at last succeeded in getting the ball over the bar—Blues six points, Colours nil. The Blues, now playing on a slightly upward incline, were sometimes very hard pressed in this spell, but their scientific play again saved them, and by a splendid piece of passing right across the ground, Wedderspoon was enabled to score. Again the try at goal was a failure. After this the Colours returned to the charge with renewed vigour, and their efforts were rewarded by a try secured by Hunter at the lower corner of the ground. Drabble made a fine attempt at goal, considering the difficult angle and the now slippery condition of the ball. The Blues, however, were not to be denied, and Arthur Morris added a third try to their score.

Very soon afterwards, Ross, by one of his own runs, again succeeded in getting across the line, this time grounding the ball right between the goal posts. Still no goal was kicked, and the game terminated soon afterwards in favour of Allan's side by 12 points (a goal and four trios) to two points. Taken all through, the. game was productive of some very good play, nearly all the good points of the Rugby play being at one time or another shown to advantage. Of the Blues—Allan, Mill, Treseder, Morris, and Martin were most conspicuous, though perhaps not a great deal superior to some of the others. Henderson, Strong, W. Gibson, Twiname, and M'Farlane. all did some really good work at times, but the last named seemed rather much given to wing play. On the other side Hunter and Drabble were the only forwards who played a really first-class game. Sonntag did a lot of hard work now and then, but did not display a great amount of judgment in his play at other times, his principal fault being with regard to dribbling. The Invercargill representatives, A. Galbraith and Cockroft, played well; but the company, to use a sporting phrase, proved too warm for them, and they were not at any time specially prominent. Of the back.*, E. Austin acquitted himself with a good deal of credit, and Russell, whom everyone was glad to see in the field again, astonished the natives by his splendid kicking. R. In glis, at full-back, also did his work well. Of the three-quarters Bee kept up his reputation as a good kick, and Wedderspoon, though a little slow in getting away with the ball at times, also acquitted himself well. Fraser and Thomson (the Blues' halfbacks) played remarkably well, the passing of the former being, beautifully done. In fact it was in a great measure owing to his precision in that department of the game that Ross was enabled to score both his tries. Vallange and Marsh were the best of the backs on the other side, and both are to be complimented on having played an excellent defensive game. The election of the team is to be made this evening, and if the weather permits of it a practice match will be played on Wednesday

THE CANTERBURY TEAM AGAINST OTAGO. (Pee United Pbess Association.)

Christchubch, August 21,

The following have been chosen to represent Canterbury in the football match with Qtago:— Full-back —A. C. Bennett; three-quarter-backs— B. L; Francis and H. Wilson; half-backs—G. H. Helmore and C. Harden; forwards—W. Bean, H. J. Beswick, W. Dow, B. J. Fooks, J. Turnbull, J. Homer, W. Sutherland, C. Torlesse, and E. B. Millton (emergency, J. Fuller). The third three-quarter-back will be' chosen on Monday. This afternoon the Probables beat the Improbables by 3 goals and 2 tries to 2 tries. C. Hamilton, well known as an amateur runner, broke the smallbone of his right leg in the game. .

(Peb United Pkess Association.)

Wellingtok, August 21,

The football match played to-day at Greytown between Wellington and Wairarapa teams was won by the latter by 2 tries to 1 try. ' The final heat in the football tournament between the various local volunteer companies resulted in a draw between D Battery and the Newtown Rifles. The last tournament between Volunteers a fortnight ago had a similar result. ' , ■' .

The Wellington Rugby Union have decided to give the New South Wales team half takings at the gates. •