Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 1341, 11 August 1877, Page 16

Field Sports.

ffOQTBALL., „y The final match of the Northern Team was played on Saturday afternoon, the, game''commencing at 3 o'clock. , .Thomson-captained the World, who mustered.23, and Eixonthe Jlepresentatives, who mustered oaly 14.". ' . ' . ,' Throughout the game was "played with great spirit, the Team, though opposed- by^ such odds in, numbers, .securing tho victory by a very large numb'p'pf points. / * , -r , r , ' We must' congratulate the Match Committee upon the selection of their representatives/ till being ' men who can bo relied upon, and not likely to suffer a defeat easily*, -(The splendid play of Thomson, during Saturday?^ gamewas very, observable^ and, the.; Team have, sustained a loss in hfe absence impossible, to substitute. 1 s " -^ •?■■ " ). " i'sr" ,\'iu\J THE MATCH WITH CANTEBBUBY. ''/. ' ' ' [Br'TELEeKAPH.] ;'„''"; ' T^ v ■. . • -(fbom.otjb special, reportee.)^ A ' ■•' •i : ■ i CheistohXjboh,! August Slhi' , ,- The football match,-Dunedin v. Chns^tchurch, was played to-day, here under the most favourable, auspices,- r as; far jab weather is concerned, and ue moat intense interest 'was manifested in C the game throughout by •" the x spectator*, numbering fully 2000. .The following? arjs ; the . name 3 of the opposing teams :—Chrißtchurcl: — ChriBtchurclt — (colours blu,e and white) : Anderson) Boltdh, Cuff, Evans (captain), Field^ Hartland, Milton, WiOllivifer/Potta, andi M.'Srcittt^forwatda) ; Moore, Cottenll, J. .MiltonJMathias^- and Stringer (backs). Dunedin : NiclioJ, Smith .A. V., Mills, J Murray, Eollacd,' Tpton, Ne•ville, Fulton, and M'Kinnon (forwards) ;i Rose, Nixon (captain), half-backs ; Gargill,-, S.we.et (three-quarters).;, AUen, M'Lean (backs). >; Mr Harman, President of the C.F.B.C.,.and.Mr Sleigh, admirably filled the position of umpires for the respective ieamsl^"' r ,';" i ' : " - r- ' ' Christchurcb. winning ' the > toss, ■ Dixon (captain), for Dunedin, kicked off from (the dower goal, having wind and sun against them, a.nd Tivas well followed up by his forwards,- Nich'ol being very' conspicuous by bis play -in' the scrimmages, and Dixon making a' good 'ran, was' well collared by Moore. • Here-Matbi&a made a splendid run, but waalwolliheld. < The clever passing of the D.F.C.waa,very £ noticeable, scrimmage; after scrimmage ; following in rapid succession, varied by very" brilliant' runs by Roae and Stringer,* the H forwards' following the ball up well, jsecured a, force-down for Dunedin. The ball being ( splendidly smarted by Moofe^ was well retjurned by r ßose, '-a'nd,' 'after some \ery good play on rboth;'BidesJ::Christch'urch' had" again to touch : down .in self-defence, just before quarter time was called. . * The. ball was again kicked off by Hartland, which was promptly returned by the D.F.C. backs." ' Milton here made a fine run; followed by a succession of well- fought scrimmages- diversified by good runs by Bolton and .Cotterill .foc.Christchurch, ,and Dixon aiid Eose for Dunedin. Half time was here, called, and a slight iest was allowed. - ' '>'<•'• -■"-

On play being resumed, Stringer r again showed up by a really clever run, and., being well backed up by his forwards, obtained the first force-down for Christchurch. The- pace now became fast and furious, both sides playing splendidly ; but the blues being evidently upon their mettle, another. force-down was added, to their score. This -was more than Ithe Dunediu men could stand, and in spite of some splendid kicking by, Evans; and Cotterill, theyrbrou'gfot the ball right down to theii opponents' goal, and it was in close proximity thereto when- tirj^ 'was called. -' •■' '-' ' ■'-- ' iP* £-

One half hour now remained by- which-;the game could be.decided, and the Dunedin men, .determined to win, '"and 'being much assisted by ; the good trim 'in which theyw4re, put .the ball again in proximity to their adversaries', gOal. Hose here by a clever run secured , a .touchdown, amidst general applause. The kick was entrusted to Nichol, who failed, however, Jbo score. Some very hard scrimmaging" took place, in which Mills came finely to, the fore, aud Dixon by a clever running drpp nearly secured a goal for his side. After this, a grand rush— the finest piece of play during the game — was made by the Blues, who took the ball the extreme length of the ground, and the'Duriedin goal seemed in danger, which was staved< J off at the- expense of a : force-down. : Sweet, i'here showed up, making a really fine fun, and, being well backed up, a second touch T down was- procured by Murray, and the kick (* difficult one) was tried by Dixon, but without result'; -^fter about a few minutes of spirited play time' was called. Victory was thus declared in favour of the Dunedin team by .two touch-downs to nothing. Throughout the game was played, in a very friendly spirit, great pluck and endurance .being shown by both sides, and the general opinion expressed was that' it was the hardest fought game played in Christchurch; - •■"/ '- \ In the evening the visiting team were entertained at dinner by the Christchurch Club, and will leave to-morrow for Auckland, via Taranaki. ' , ,

The Auckland Football team to play Dnnedin has been chosen, as follows : — King, Henderson, C. Dacre, W. Robinson, E. Burgess, Warbrick, Nolan,. Gudgson, Mercer, Kerr, Carter, J. Mackay, Coldbeck, Shakespeare, W. Philson., Emergeuoy men : Mowbray, 0. Burgess, F, Ma.cKay, Ya.te.s, Orchard,