NOTES ON SATURDAY'S PLAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10418, 22 July 1895, Page 4

NOTES ON SATURDAY'S PLAY.

Thb Rugby Game

Those football enthusiasts wbo visited fche North ground on Saturday wero rewarded by witnessing one of the most exciting games of the season, and it was not till writ on in the secoud spell that the Kaikorai showed their superiority. The score at half-time—Union, 4 points; Kaikorai, 5 points—wai * tho result of tho vigorous play of the U-iion forwards (Beadle, Douglas, and Stewart being the most prominent), whose dribbling-, fast'folio wing.up, and excellent tickling werp irresistible. Armstrong at half back playi-d a capital game for the losers. He passed wich judgment, and his punting was also smart and ele..n. Imrie and Gibson were the best of tbe three-quarters, both getting in som^ good kicks, sua the latter stopping rushes in great style Lumb afc full back made few uiistnki*?, puntiug and tackling well. Of the Ksikorai backs Ki'.'g had plenty to do, especially iv the first spell, and acquitted himself admirably. Sullivan was the most useful three-quattar, his play being very safe. Armit showed good form at times, but'should get hia kick in smarter. He was im-lined to hang to the ball tuo long Cunningham's play was erratic, but he showed improvement towards the finish. Duncan played in a manner worthy of his fame, tusking some fine runs. His passing and kiekine were alao excellent. Davis was too well watched to do a great deal. Davie, who played our, in the second spell, was nofc a success, fumbling frequently. The Wilkinson brothers formed a formidable trio forward, W. Wilkinson, if anything, putting in the most solid work, and D. and J. Torrance and Ballantyne lent; valuable assistance. J. Torrance was responsible for a number of free kicks, neglecting to give his opponents five yards when off-side.

The match between the Dunedin and Pirates teams, which was pky.d on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday afternoon, attracted comparatively little attention, nofc more than 150 spectators being present. Although resulting in a victory for the Blues, che match, on the whole, was a pretty eveu one. The play taking it all through, was not very exciting— the first spell, indeed, being particularly tame A feature of the game was the tackling of the Pirates, maccsney, who rendered cxc-llent service in this way, bsin- specially prominent Garter, Allan, aud Young also played well for their side. Tha D.v.div team, although workiug better together than they did on the previous Saturday m their match with th). Alhambra men, still did net d-. nearly co well m this respect as might h-ve been eknecZTand in truth better eon.bi_,_ti- Q on bath is what mijjhfc bave reasonably been. looked f«r Conspicuous among, tbo Blues we're St-**-,1-.», Mason, M'Kenzie, and Richard^alUf wh " battled well ou behalf of their tt^i The match between the Zixa/ri »„j o sham teams on Saturday toiTm int. *-CaW" except iv the earl, JolXal^ oae principal* no.e^thy to^TV^^

fringemeata of tbe rules. The Caversham representatives made a good stand—and in fact had perhaps tbo best of the contest—until the Colours (.cored a try with ridiculous ease. Spiurs, securiag a'mark, kicked down the field, and was down on the opposing full back—who was out of his place—before he could return, aud crossed the line. , This mishap seemed to take tbe heart out cf the Caversham nlayera, who, although they played up bravely,'did not seem fco atsack their opponent, with the same vigour as previously The game, throughout wah principally a forward one. Bofch sides did some good passing, while the loose dribbling ru-his which were frequently started lent a good deal of interest to the play. Among the Zipgari; forwards. M'Farlane, Campbell, and Spiers were most conspicuous. Fordy--e Mid Williamson did some good work, while Pollock aud Clark likewise deserve to be meiit'o.ied. The besfc of tbe Caversham players were L=_n'»-, j Urquhart, Burgess, Stalker, M'Kenzie, and Oleen. .

Only six players of the Duuedin Second put in an appearance at, Montecillo to msefc the | Warehousemen, but obtaining the requisite number of 'substitutes -th«y--vety pluckily resulved to play, which reflects credit on them, considering tbat some teams refuse to play wh.-n only 10 of their number roll uo. The score of the winners would have been much larger had their _ backs—the three-quarters especiallybeen inform, 'he waut of truicing teiliog very badly on one Of their, number. The passing, with doe or two exception!-, wag very erratic, the halves particularly c.-ring in this respect. To gam. ground the latter should remember that the toll-must be.passed but quickly aud low, not high in the air, as was the case on Saturday. The eight forwards—one for some unexplained reason failing to put in an appearance—all played well, audit would be hard to pick the best. For the losers Logan, Driver, Smith, and Morgan played a hard game. . The Association. Game. . The Mornington fca&m again proved that they are very fast, and this no doubt, together with very fair combination, was the cause of the large sopre they put up against the Northern. The Mornington forwards time after time spoilt the return of ths. Northern backs by thtir fast following up. Of the Morniugtou forwards Kingston, Holgate, and Garside as usual played a.sterling game. Nagle aud "Johnstone, two players from the Secoud Eleven, also played well; but Johnstone must get over the babic of coming in too far from the wing, thereby leaving his side unprotected. Sparrow and Andebou afc half plajed withgood judgment. The halves backed up well, and fed their forwards splendi<_ly. Thomas and Sparrow at back played'a splendid defensive game. Of the Northern forwards Sharp, Morrison, M'Nair, and a player playing inner right wing were the pink., The halves (excepting Sharp, who played with good judgment) kicked too nard, thereby time after time nullifying the efforts of the for-J wards. Clark and Young afc back both played safely and kicked well. White in goal played a great game in the second spell, .ami proved he was the right man in the right place. *

The Qaeeu's Park and Z.alan'dia teams each played a good g/-tn_, excellent combination .b.iog.. displayed." For the.Queen's Park !Hay_ses and Smeaton pat in gJMJd work, their dribbling, passing,, and following up being especially serviceable. Campbell at centre p.ay_d very unselfishly, and put in some very good shots afc goal. Of the backs Robertson, Newall, and Arthur were always about, while the kicking of M'Donald at centre was well judged; Of the Zealandia .Malcolm aud Jacksoq showed most improvement, but the- forwards all played well, and' are • steadily improving. Bennett (in goat) played his'usual good game, whilst Cameron and Murcbi3on rendered-valuable service by their kicking and tackling. - The full backs, also played up to their best form. Mr-Watson, as referee, controlled the game impartially and efficiently.