NOTES BY FORWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 22

NOTES BY FORWARD.

One of those interesting matches which generally wind up the football season was played on the Asylum ground on Saturday between teams from the Otago Daily Times Office and Fergusson and Mitchell's. The match arose ous of a challenge received from the latter firm, and accepted by the Times' employes after a good deal of hunting up of backs and forwards among printers, compositors, reporters, machinists, &c. The match having been arranged each side put forward their best efforts to win, and Saturday afternoon found a goodly crowd of spectators on the ground, waiting anxiously for the struggle to commence. A good deal of interest was taken in the contest from the fact that several of the players on either side had never before indulged in the noble game of football, and also from the fact that Ross and Fraser, two of the Otago interprovincial representatives, were to be pitted against each other. The teams were photographed by Mr Frost, and then little time was lost in making n start. The Times forwards soon showed their superiority in the scrummage. It was, however, some time before they could assail the enemy's lines, but Ross at length, receiving the ball by a neat pass f rofti Lonsdale, was past the opposing backs in a twinkling, and scored a touch behind the goal. The try at goal being a failure the teams • returned to the fray, and roars of laughter were caused by the vagaries of the " new chum " players, and the occasional spills that took place in the muddy pools of water that lent a pictm^esque aspect to the field of battle. The Times "jumbo " was a host in himself, and being well aided by Brooks, Davis, Henderson, and others the Warfare was soon again carried on within their opponents' lines. After a hard struggle a scrummage, formed right on the goal line, and Brooks, who worked in fine style, got the ball over, and secured try number two. There was great rejoicing among the supporters of the Fourth Estate at this, and when Ross kicked a fine goal from a difficult, angle, making the score seven points v to nil, the Times men were jubilant. Notwithstanding this success, however, the victorious side had soon to look to their laurels, for in the second spell their lines were in a continual state of siege, and Fergusson and Mitchell's men had all the best of the second spell. Taylor, 'their captain, played splendidly, as did also Fraser, Shepard, and Croxford, but owing to the good collaring of Dodds, Christie, Henderson, and some of the opposing forwards, they were for a long time unable to score. At length Shepard got over the line and scored a try. No goal was kicked, and for the next 10 minutes the play was most exciting, and, there were loud cries of " Now Times" and "Go it F. and 11." Scrummaging ensued on the Times goal line, and Fraser getting the ball heeled out to him, •wa& over the Uoe before his opponents knew

where they were. The try at goal was again a failure, and " time " was called soon afterwards* the Times team being victorious by seven points to four.

A team of 25 citizens of Roslyn, captained by the Mayor, played a inatoh on Saturday afternoon against the First Fifteen of the Kaikorai Football Club. Previous to the commencement of the match colours were presented to the Kaikorai Football Club by Miss Conway, consisting of a beautiful flag with the monogram of the club nicely worked in different coloured silks. Miss Conway, in presenting the colours, said it gave her great pleasure, on behalf of the ladies of the district, in handing them over, and she trusted that the good fortune which had attended their effort during the past season would follow them during the coming season, and that the flag which she had now much pleasure in handing to them would lead them to victory again and again. Mr Douglas, the captain of the club suitably thanked the donors for the handsome present made them. Play was then commenced, and the Kaikorai winning the toss, decided to kick with the wind, which, at the beginning of the game, was blowing a hurricane. Elliot kicked off for the Citizens', and the play was soon fast and furious in the Citigens' 25, who, in self-defence, were several times forced down, and many a sturdy Citizen came to untimely grief at the hands of the small but nimble footballers. Farley secured possession of the leather, and looked very much like scoring, but being caught by one of the Kaikorai backs, paid for his rashness by measuring his length on "mother earth." .Millar, Williamson, Ovenden, and Armit now made a desperate attempt to score, but the fine back play of Elliott, Keogh, and Wedderspoon, combined with the determined play of the Citizen forwards, prevented any score being made against the Citizens. After the usual spell play was again resumed, and the Kaikorai now having to play against the wind, soon found matters very warm in their twenty-five, but the want of practice was now apparent on the part of the Citizens, who missed several good chances of scoring. Wedderspoon now made a brilliant run, but not being well backed up lost the chance of scoring. The Kaikorai were compelled to force down several times. The game, after a very tough battle, ended in a draw, neither side scoring. For the Kaikorai Davey, Douglas, Wiggins, Jones, and for the. Citizens Sonntag, Jackson, Dickenson, Gibson, and Stuart, played a good game. The Kaikorai Band were on the ground, and enlivened the proceedings with various selections.

The Banks v. Civil Servants, match was played on the Montecillo ground (by kind permission ot that club), and resulted in a win for the Banks by three goals (one kicked from the field by Huxtable), and two trios (18 points), to one try (two points). The Civil Servants, who were playing a very heavy team, had the best of the game for the first quarter of an hour : but after that they went to pieces, and for the rest of the game the Banks had it all their own way. Tries were obtained for the Banks by Booth, two ; and Hassall and Boddington one each ; while Duudas scored for the Civil Servants.

The New South Wales team are getting beaten in nearly every match in Queensland, and there is a good deal of dissatisfaction at the selection of the team in the first-named colony. , What are " our boys " doing in Queensland ? asks a Sydney paper, is> undoubtedly the allabsorbing sensation amongst the votaries of Rugby rules. Well, I hope they are spending high times, and enjoying themselves apart from the football world in " the far north." Concerning their mission as exponents of football from New South Wales, they have been signally unsuccessful. How it has thus come about may be easily accounted for, when we compare this with other intercolonial contests in which kindred associations are similarly affected by the utter impossibility of organising a faithfully representative team that can hie from home for a few weeks. As many of the University players were unfortunately attending lectures, we were thus debarred the support of some sterling players^ We also feel the absence of many other' prominent players unable to desert their business, and football must rest content as an after consideration.

The same paper says : — That the Brisbaneites were infinitely superior to the New South Wales team at present in Queensland, I will not deny, but I am of the opinion of many others, that, although they have utterly vanquished the best team we could send under the depressing circumstances, we have at home the materialfrom which we can choose another team capable of administering as sound a dressing as oar worthy banana companions have subjected them. Poor Rugbyiteb! The season is virtually over, and they must put up with their defeat, and bide their time till next season, when they expect to decoy the Northerners into Sydney, and then they will be happy to discharge their humiliating compliment. In the ordinary course these events, when our lads return, what strains of woe " it will be our lot to bear." Having bewailed their persecutions at the hands of Dame Fortune, they will hasten to contrast their sad state with that of the favorites of that goddess, and maintain that had they but assured possession of such luck as their victors they would lack none of their victories. Be that as it may, the Brisbaueites certainly merited fortune, for while our representatives rested on their oars, accepting repose ere they had earned it, the " bananaites " were practising together most consistently, hence their superiority over New South Wales. Our men self-judged themselves all competent, and seemingly considered it derogatory to undergo the "preliminary canters," forgetting that these are as important as the preliminary posturings before the " grapple and tug." To those unversed in the art it is foolishness, but others wiser than they know, the value of the wary eye and slow approach. But I may yet be upset in my " prophecies," as they " may " win their return match v. Brisbane Combined on Saturday.

Messrs J. C. Anderson and T. O'Donnell (says Town and Country) both prominent players in the last intercolonial matches, New South Wales v. Queensland, are old New Zealand men. The former is the crack quarter-back of the Brisbaneites, and O'Donnell may be termed the boss of our forwards, and yet neither was educated under the auspices of New South Wales.