DUNEDIN V. UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9130, 1 June 1891, Page 3

DUNEDIN V. UNION

As usual when the old-established Dunedin and Union clubs meet, there was a large attendance on tho North ground to witness the first match between them this season. The Dunodin Bkipper won the toas and elected to play from the north end. Not more than three miuutes had elapsed before the Union team had to force down in self-defence. The Blues (Dunediu) at once oarried the play to tho Maroons' quarters, aud Kirkcaldy crossed the line near the corner flag. Cuff placed an excellent goal. This appeared to waken up the Maroon?, and Henderson carried the ball right up the field. Taiaroa, who was playing a fine game, intercepted a pass and saved what seemed likely to bo a certain score. The Maroons kept up the pressure, but kicking too hard, Duuedin waa forced. Loose play followed, the Maroons having hard luck in failing to score on more than one occasion. The Blues continued on the defensive, but nothing of a sensational nature occurred till Taiaroa, picking up wonderfully smart with a fine run crossed the line, Caff not mending matters with tho place. A few minutes later a penalty kick was awarded to the Blues, and Cuff placed a beautiful goal, and brought the Dunedin's score up to S points. The Uuion now rallied aud, as the reßult of somo nice passing, Porteous had a dear run in between the posts. Thomson gained the major point. Score: Dunedin 6 paints, Union 3_ This was the state of the game at half time. When play was resumed it was of a give and take character for some time. The Union forwards repeatedly got on dribbling rushes, but all the ground gained was invariably lost by tho threequarters, who were completely off their play. At leugth a scrum was formed close to the Dunedin line, and Beadle got over and scored, Thomson failing to register the major poiut. The play, which was kept fairly loose, continued of a give-and-take character. At length a loose russh by the Dunedin forwards resultod in the ball beiug kicked over the Union line. Torrance, the full : back, failed to take in the situation, and instead I of forcing down or kicking the leather out of bounds, allowed Hunter to follow up and sooro a try. Cuff took tho kick, but failed to enhance. This took place within a few minutes of the call of time, aud no further score was made, Duuedin winning by 7 points to 4, The play on both sides wis rather disappointing, especially in the backs department, Taiaroa, for Dunedin, and Harris, for the Unions, were notable exceptions. Of the forwards, Turton, Isaacs, and Heenan showed most prominently for Dunedin, and Henderson, Tattersall, and Grieve for the Maroons. Messrs R. Martin (Danedin) and T. Dowues (Union) were the line umpires, while Mr E. R. Bowler was very smart with the whistle, and gave every satisfaction. University v. Zikgaei-Richmond. The match botween the University and Zingari-Richmond First Fifteen at Tahuna Park resulted iv a draw, eaoh side scoring 3 points. Duriug the first 6pell the Colours had a slight advantage, and assuming the aggressive early in the second spell, Fordyee was enabled to secure a try between the posts, from which a goal was kicked. After the kick off Montgomery took the ball well up the field, where after a little loose play Ross secured it, and by a fine run down the touch line evaded thosa in pursuit, and placed the leather between the postp. Montgomery took'the kick and equalised the scores. After this the play was very even until time was called. For the Colours, Esquilant, Winthrop, aud Heuny did good work; while Andrew, Campbell, and Craig, of the forwards, Rutherford, Graham, and Mendelsohn, of the backs, strove hard to carry the bluo banner to victory. Unfortunately for the Blues, Mendelsohn, who had been playing a brilliant game as centre three-quarter, injured bis ankle shortly before half-time.. Both teams showed want of condition and lack of combination, and should give more attention to their training. The gentlemen who acted as line umpires, and Mr Home aa referee, performed their duties in a highly satisfactory manner. Other Matches. The Port Chalmers and High School first fifteens tried conclusions oh the ABylum ground on Saturday. The game, which was a very fast one throughout, resulted iv a win for the Port team. The principal features of the game wero tho good kicking and following up of the High School and the passing and ruuning of the Port team. In the first spell Bauchop scored twice for the visitors, and Falconer converted one of the tries. Bauchop also scored in the second spell from a splendid passing run, and Falconer again converted. Of the school team Sutherland and Landels (backs) and Jack and Bitch^lor (forwards) were the most prominent; and for the Port, Holden, Strachan, and Falconer (backs) and Koss, Fairley, and Robertson (forwards) were mo3t conspicuous. The game was a very quiet oue, not a siDgle dispute occurring. Messrs Mandl and Crawford were the umpires, ami Mr M'Brearty officiated with the whistle in such a way as to give everyone entire satisfaction. The match Pirates Second v. Kaikorai Second was played on the Carisbrook ground, and after a very even game resulted in a win for the Pirates by one goal and two tries (5 points) to 3 points. Tries for the Pirates were obtained by Johnston (2) and Bell, and for the K*ikorai by Morrison. Crawshaw, Taggart, Pram, and M'Beath played well for the Pirates, as did Morrison, Armit, and Duncan for the Kaikorai. The Uuion Second met and defeated thb Danedin Second on the Caledonian ground by 6 points to nil. A remarkably fast game was witnessed by a goodly number of spectators. Both teams are heavy, and were equally matched dating the first spell—give and take play being the rule. When the teams crossed over there was no score, although Danedin threw away two or three distinct chances by hard kicking. A repetition of the first spell was witnessed until tho last 10 minutes, when Alexander had the ball passed to him in hia own twenty-five, and after dodging three or four opponents showed them a clean pair of heels, and scoring between tho postp. Finnegan improved the score. Almost immediately Begg crossed the line, Finnegan again placing a goal. ' For the winners the forwards all, played well, Alexander and Robson being particularly brilliant; while the backs all showed up well. "Harper" TaUroa waa of immense service to the losers, his kicking and strong run 3 beiog features of the game. The Warehousemen travelled to Ravensbourne on Saturday to meet the local team. In the flrst spell the play was very even, several good dribbliKg rushe3 being got on by both Bides. In the second spell the game was mostly confined to scrummages, though several good rashes were got on at times. The game ended in a draw, neither side scoring. For the Ware' housemen Haydon (2), Fish, Best, and M'Crobie played well, as did Webber (2), Moller, Walker, and M'Laren for the Baveusbourne. The match 'Varsity Second v. Zingari Second was played on the Zingari - Richmond ground at Montecillo, and resulted in a win for the Colours. For the first quarter of an hour the hard bumpy ground completely put the Blues at fault, and the Zingari forwards made good use of their opportunity and got in three time?, bnt no goals resulted. The 'Varsity now settled down to work, and when time was called the score stood at 5 points to 4. Robertson, Hislop, Herring, and Morgan played a splendid game for tbe University, and the rattling form of the Zingari forwards was quite a feature of the game. The Port Chalmers and High School Second Fifteens met at Port Chalmers, and after a rather one-sided game victory rested with the local team by 15 poiuts to 1. Lyle potted a goal, and Ross, Morgan, Main, aud M'Leod each scored tries, which were all converted by. Christeson and Montgomery. Greig sa; tbe only one to score for the School. Messrs Moir, Le Brun, and Falconer controlled the game. Eight of the Pirates Third journeyed to Tahuna Park, and, with the assistance of substitutes, played against the Pacific Second, and were defeated by 18 points to nil. Tries for the Pacific were obtained by Kyle (2), Cassell, Brown, and Hall (3), four being converted, while Parson kicked a goal from the field. The Union Third met and defeated tbe Warehousemen Second by 5 points to 3. For the winners, Spence and M'Donald obtained tries, while M'Nair potted a goal. One of the Warehousemen potted a goal juat on the csll of time. When the gams concluded it was discovered tbat tho Union had been playing with 16 men. The Warehousemen intend to protest to.the Rugby Union. In the match Belmont v. Southern, the Southern won by two goals (6 points) to a try. A Wellington ttlagram Btates that tbe Wellington Club defeated the Melrose by 6 points (a goal and three tries) to 3 points (a potted goal). Poneke and Petone played a draw, each scoring a try. The first round for the senior championship is now finished. The Wellington Club is leading, with three wins and one loss The Petone and Athletics have lost two gameß end won two, while Melrose baa been defeated in all matches.