QUEENSLAND v." NEW SOUTH WALES,

Otago Witness, Issue 1812, 13 August 1886, Page 26

QUEENSLAND v. " NEW SOUTH WALES,

Queensland beat New South Wales. Though the weather was quite the reverse of favourable the match attracted a crowd of 6000 people. The Queensland team was as follows .-—Back, Pring Roberts ; halves, Anderson, Michael, and O'Rourke; quarters, Stacey, Orr, and Hickson (captain) ; forwards, Manson, Byron, Durham, Baynes, Hossack, Armstrong, Blanchard, and Eddison. The New South Wales skipper placed his team as follows : — Back, G. Walker ; halves, J, Wood, M' Arthur, and P. Chapman (captain) ; quarters, B. Robberds, Caird, and Ewen Cameron; forwards, Webb, Carr, F. Bayliss, Loe, Neill, Hungerford, O'Donnell, and Hale. Michael was commissioned to kick off, and the game going by a rattling good kick. M' Arthur returned the compliment, and soon Chapman oaine to the fore by taking the ball towards Queensland's goal, but Durham was too wide awake, and soon returned the oval, by splendid dribbling, into the New South Wales' 25 yards, where it was sent out of bounds. The New South Wales forwards rallied up, and drove the ball out about half way on the western boundary. Carr's good play, supplemented by a run and kick from M'Arthur, sent the ball into the Queenslanders' 25 yards, where it went out in the western line. On the re-appearance of the ball Michael secured it, and struck for his opponent's lines, and being caught passed it well to Hossack, who was now within the local's 25yd flags. A scrimmage was the next business; from which the ball was liberated to Hickson, who put too much "foot" on it, and fortunately left an opening for New South Wales to seek shelter by forcing, which they wisely accepted. It is a pity to see this play, as it is generally considered preferable to hold the ball when nearing an opponent's goal line. O'Rourke (Q.), a promising young player from the Brisbane Grammar School, returned the kick splendidly, and soon the play was in the New South Wales selection until Hale (N.S.W.) transferred it a bit ahead and scrimmaged it halfway. The Queensland forwards completely outweighed their opponents in the scrimmages, and had it all their own way until O'Donnell and O'Neill (N.S.W.),by good forward play soon put matters on an equal footing once more. This was, however, immediately upset by Michael's great running powers, and now the ball was closer than ever to the New South Wales goal line. All of sudden, as if by gunshot, the Queensland skipper sped onwards and despite the earnest embraces and expostulations of the New South Wales boys never stopped to take a breath until he was safely across the N.S.W. goal line, and had secured first score for Queensland, for which the crowd cheered him lustily. Roberts essayed to kick a difficult goal, and narrowly failed, leaving the scores — Queensland two points to N.S.W. nil. Woods kicked out, sending the ball right back to Roberts (Q.), who was caught nauping by O'Donnell and Lee (N.S.W.), the result being that the game was kept within the Queensland's 25yds for some time, but nothing was scored by the locals. The game slowly gravitated to the half-way flags, when Baynes (Q.) sent it out of bounds. Thrown in and scrimmaged, from which it was thrown back to M'Arthur (N.S.W.), who ran further back, and shortly after, the ball was kicked out of bounds uncomfortably close to the N.S.W. capital. M'Arthur, however, delivered his side by a good kick out of bounds on the safe side of the balf-way flags. Hungerford and Wood (N.S.W.) by a grand rush ran the ball into their opponent's 15yds, but Armstrong (Q.) was not long in dribbling it out again, and sent it on to M'Arthur (N.S.W.) who had a shot at a goal, but failed to score. This compelled Roberts to seek respite by forcing, for the first time, on behalf of the visitors. After the kick out Carr (N.S.W.) made a good attempt to cross, but was brought to account a few yards from the Queensland goal line, whence it was driven in quick time by the healthy forward play of the visitors, who left it in neutral ground, where M'Arthur obtained possession of the ball, and should have kicked, but, preferring to run the gauntlet, was well taken by Byron, and soon after Anderson made a capital run into the New South Wales' 25yds, where it remained amidst scrimmages until Neill and Lee returned it to half way. The New South Wales forwards seemed a bit more united in their efforts, and soon had the pleasure of being within 25 yards of their opponents' lines, but all their hopes and good deeds were soon scattered by tho redoubtable Byron, who, by a circular kind of run, brought it out a bit, and leaving it to Durham and, Manson (Q.), the latter pair soon dribbled

it past the New South Wales 25 yards flags, where it remained, despite the worthy attempts to shift it one way or the other. The raising of the seige at last fell to O'Donne 11, who by a good run passed a goodly number of his opponents, and being captured, passed the ball to Neill, who made a still better run, and passed all his opponents. Roberts, however, was fleet enough to overtake him, and compelled Neill to stay two yards the " safe ' side of the Queensland goal-line, where it was scrimmaged. On being liberated therefrom Chapman had a possible shot at goal, but missed and Queensland forced the second time Roberts (Q.) kicked out rather badly, and Walker sent it behind the visitors' line. Roberts the Queensland back, accepted, forcing in preference to kicking out, making third force down to the visitors. This was hardluck for the locals Roberts sent ,t out with a will this time, and senmmages tollowed about the centre, untS Byron and Durham (Q.) dribbled it well £ To their opponents background, and New South Wales were again compelled to seek shelter by forcing for the second time. Hard luck for the visitors this time. The immaculate white knickers now showed signs of decorations by their constant visits to mother earth who was undergoing what is generally termed her ablutions. Mud and grass stains do not improve white flannels, but did little to retard the enthusiasm of the combatants Lee (N.S.W) by good play put the Queensland halfbacks upon their mettle, and succeeded in gaining access to their 25 yards allotment, where he was compelled to pass to E. Cameron, who looked a likely scorer until he slipped and lost possession. The Queenslanders were driving the ball back when half-time put a temporary stop to the proceedings.

After the usual respite had been granted, the teams re-appeared, and Chapman sent the ball off with a good kick, but Roberts returned it to half-way. During the next few minutes, play was working closer to the Queensland goal, and Anderson (Q.) made a circular run, and foolishly passing the front of his own goal fell into NeiU's arms. The visitors soon appeared at their best, and making a general sortie, headed by Anderson, Orr, Hossack, and O'Rourke, gradually shifted the scene of action to neutral grounds, where Walker (N.S.W.) sent the ball out of bounds. On its re-appearance the locals returned the ball towards their opponent's goal, where it again suffered the indiguityof a scrimmage. The visitors, having the better of it, returned the play to New South Wales' territory, from where it was afterwards transferred by E. Cameron to within twenty-five yards of the Queensland goal, but, in less than a minute, the New South Wales backs were once more called upon to defend their frontier, until Chapman obtained the oval and struck a bee-line for his opponents' headquarters. Being taken, he passed the ball to M'Arthur, who made the longest and best run of the day, ending in a touch being recorded for the locals, amidst great enthusiasm in the grandstand. The kick, which was extremely difficult, was entrusted to the redoubtable Woods, who failed to negotiate the muchcoveted goal. The scores were now equal, and the greatest interest was manifested in the endeavours of both teams. M'Arthur, Neill, and Lee (N.S.W.) were soon at it again, and were especially troublesome- to their "visitors and kept the Queensland boys imprisoned in their own 25 yards until Byron and Hossack (Q.) dribbled it well out of danger and onwards closer and closer till M'Arthur put his veto upon them and again rarne forward, with a grand run, which ended somewhere within the shady side of the Queensland's 25 yard flags, where he wisely kicked out of bounds, thus gaining considerably by his judgmeat. It was not long ere the bail was returned into the New South Wales' "ranch," and Walker was called upon to kick out of bounds. After being thrown in and scrimmaged, Anderson made a great attempt to cross the locals' lines, but was too well tackled by Roberts, however, not before serious trouble was the result of Anderson's supplementary spurt, which compelled the locals to force for the third time Walker sent the ball out, but O'Rourke made a feeble attempt to return it, ard soon after O'Donnell succeeded in crossing the Queensland lines, but Roberts threw him out of touch and Queensland forced for the fourth time. The play now became even more general than hitherto. Walker's true kicking succeeded in nullifying the incessant attacks of the Queenslanders, while O'Rourke was equally effective for the visitors. However the heavy " Banana " forwards were not to be denied, and, inch by inch, they drove the play back, until they were engaged in a packed scrimmage withm two yards of the New South Wales goal live, but O'Donnell's dribbling began to tell at last, and gained breathing-time for the oppressed E. Cameron essayed a run, but was compelled to take his kick, from which Roberts got a mark and sent the ball out of bounds half way. Walker and Caird (N.S.W.), now showed some grand play, which brought temporary 'relief to the now oppressed locals. When the play was within a few yards of the centre, Caird made an attempt to effect a long pass to M'Arthur, who missed. This fault proved fatal to the New Sonth Wales team, for Stacey seized the opportunity and scored second try for the visitors. Roberts again attempted the kick, but as it was an acute angle, he failed to enhance their previous score. From Walker's kick out, Anderson made a short run, being pushed outof bounds just as it was becoming interesting, and a minute after Wood was pushed out of bounds from the opposite side. The result of attempted passing with the wet ball was patent to Hickson, whose stentorian voice was heard to the tune of "Don't pass, boys; the ball is wet," but the lesson to our men indulging in passing the ball was indeed bitter, and as they seemed to possess a mania for this silly business the results were invariably nothing but ruinous. At the call of time the Bauana champions were busily engaged scraping away within their opponents' selection, but old father Time had willed the result a win for the visitors by 4 ooints'to 2.