THE NATIVE TEAM'S TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 27

THE NATIVE TEAM'S TOUR.

THE CANTERBURY MATCH. The Canterbury team received a severe drubbing from the Natives on Saturday, the latter scoring 11 tries, from which two goals were kicked, making the score 15 points to nil. There was a large attendance of spectators — the largest, so far, this season — despite a cold wind. It was generally expected the match would prove a runaway, but this was not the case, the spectators being Agreeably surprised at the fine fight made by the Canterbury representatives. So far as play itself went the game was not at all one-sided, but the powerful attacking force brought to bear by the Natives in the shape of fleet running, marvellous dodging, and accurate passing was more than the local backs could resist. At times the Canterbury team had some good chances of scoring, and had there been any Bystem about their play they might have registered a point or two. There was a marked contrast in the actions of the Natives in this match and that against Hawke's Bay. In the latter they did not put themselves out in the least, but in the former they brought to bear many points new to colonial "footballers. It was evident they had a strong desire to score as many tries as they possibly could, and but for the fine tackling of Donnelly, Hobbs, and Wilson, they would have secured about twice as many as they did. These three backs showed sterling defence, and Hobb3 was cheered time after time for his grand collaring. The attempts of Cresswell and M'Lean, the heavy weight backs, were generally fio feeble that Hobbs was compelled to cut across the ground and tackle the man they had let by. His play throughout the afternoon was of a first class order. In the first quarter of an hour he very nearly potted a couple of goals, the first attempt going to the side of the post and the second under the bar. The Canterbury forwards played a very good game except in one respect, and an unusual one for them ; their rushes were of a very poor description, due to overrunning the ball in a manner hitherto unknown in the annals of Canterbury football. They simply could not

dribble, hut; on the touch and following up and collaring their form was not at all bad. The tries gained by the Natives were the outcome in the majority of cases of combined play and splendid running. Elliott, Gage, and Madigan were a great deal too fast for our backs once they got under way. Elliott scored a couple of tries in the first 10 minutes by running clean round the local three-quarters. H. Wynyard did some grand passing from the scrummage, though he was very carefully watched by the opposing half backs, who for a wonder did not stick to the back of their own scrummage. Arthur Warbrick, Taare, Maynard, and Ellison played a splendid forward game, and Elliott, Tabby Wynyard, and Gage did an immense amount of work at the back. Madigan was not utilised half enough. W. Warbrick (the fall back) made a couple of grand runs, the first of which ended over the goal line, while the second was only stopped just short of it. He was enthusiastically cheered for his display of pace and dodging. The tries were gained by Elliott (3), Gage (3), and F. Warbrick, Arthur Warbriek, W. Warbrick, Maynard, and H. Wynyard one each. Ellison kicked one of the goals, and F. Warbrick the other.