Dunedin v. Pirates,

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 26

Dunedin v. Pirates,

This match, took place on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday afternoon. The ground was in grand condition and the weather magnificent. The Dunedin won the toss, and Drabble kicked off with hie face to jthe sun. At the very outset the Pirates' full back muffed the ball, and the Dunedin men pressed their opponents very hard for the first 10 minutes. Twice did the Dunedin backs almost; pot a goal. It took the Pirates the best part of the first spell to get together,,their work in the earlier part of. the game being of a very disappointing nature. The Dunedin, on the ottiier hand, played a good combined game. No score was made by either side in the first half. Early in the beginning of the second spell Matheson made a good dash to within a short distance of the Dunedin goal-line; the ball then went into touch. In the line out Ronaldson secured it, aud was rewarded with a try. Howison took the kick, which was unsuccessful. Shortly after this Milne came through a scrummage and dribbled the hall over the line, scoring the second try for the Pirates. Drabble took this kick, which was again unsuccessful. After the kick out there was a lot of give-and-take play. Thomson got the ball about the tweuty-five flag, arid dropped a first-rate goal. The Dunedin team played 1 , up manfully, and with such success that' to-; wards the end of the game they had the ball well in the Pirates' twenty-five. Cook, who had^ played a really first-class game, here followed! Thomson's example. The ' Pirates lost no time' in kicking out, aud by tStephenson's help thej bajl was once more brought close to the Pirates'! goal. Walls obtained a mark, and ifc was an open question whether the goal would be kicked or not. Luckily for the Pirates the kick was charged down, and the ball went to the other side of the ground, where Montgomery sue-, ceeded in kicking into touch. The time whistle was now . blown, and a thoroughly enjoyable i game brought to a close. For the winners the pick of the forwards were Drabble and A. W. Morris. Of the rest all had their work to do, and did it right well. Ronaldson in particular played a really good game. For the backs Fraser played better than usual, which is oayiug much. Nevertheless, he at times, I reget to say, showed a great tendency to run back. That Thomson also played well there is no doubt, bufc he should remember' it is as much his duty to stop the opposing halfs kicking goals as to kick them himself. Ovendon, at thr<. o-qnarters, made one or two good rugs ; Bsquilant contented hjms«lf with a strong defensive game for the losers. Cook is out and; away the pick of the backs. The good kioking! and punting at three-quarters oame from Smith, and several well-meant but unsuccessful dashes from Stephensou For the forwards Martin was; first-rate on the lino out, and worked hard all through. The nexb be>t were Turnbull, Mene-' lavs, and Turfcou. Harper all through thefirst spell was very dangerous with his flribbl-' ing. The Pirates remedied this in' the second half by placing Morris' opposite him. Messrs Rose and Mills umpired, and. Mr' Chapman was; referee. The teams were as follows :— Dunedin : Ba6ks — Austin, Walls, Smith, Stephensou, Cook,, Hardy; forwards — Martin, Turnbull, Home,' Turton, Meuelaus, Branigan, Carter, Harper, M'Kay. Pirates; Backs— Howison, Bsqu'ilaht,' Montgomery, Ovendon, Fraser, Thomson ; forwards — Drabble, A. YV. Morris, J. H. Morris, Diamond, Cantrell, Matheson, Black, Mime, Ronaldson.