NOTES BY FORWARD,

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 26

NOTES BY FORWARD,

The " gate " at the match against Auckland on the 10th inst. realised £177.

The tour of the Auckland representatives has not proved so successful as it was expected it would prove, but the result goes to show that the football teams throughout' the principal parts of the colony are very evenly matched at the present 'time.

Aa the conduct of the Auckland footballers at Chrietehusch has been severely criticised, I deem it but fair to state that in Dunedin their demeanour was irreproachable, and not the slightest exception could be taken to it.

Cromwell defeated Clyde on the 11th inst. by & goal and two triea (5 points) to nil. F, Brodrick, who left Dunedin about the middle of the present season for Queensland, dropped & goal from the field in a recent match at Eockhampton.

There is a neglected genius in Sunderland who once called the football a "coriacious sphere." Afterwards, in the language of the same genius, the ball became a " tegumentary cylinder," and it "swished through the ambient air," and performed a variety of other antics.

At a meeting of the General Committee of the O.R.F.U. on Monday it was decided to have a football tournament on Saturday, the 28th inst., in aid of the funds of the Dunedin Hospital. The idea is to have a series of seven or nine men a-side games, each game lasting 10 or 15 minutes. The teams entering will be drawn to play each other, the i winners of the various rounds to play off until only two teams are left in the final. The winners of the final will receive trophies.

A match between fifteen chosen from the Kaikorai and Alhambra Clubs and fifteen of the province came off on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday in the ! presence of a good number of onlookers. Shortly after halfpast 3 Montgomery kicked off, and the Blues' forwards following the ball smartly were on it before their opponents could return it. Thomas got it, and made a good run before he was collared by Restieaus. Cran then passed to Lang, who made, off, at a rapid pace* and got over a good deal, of ground, but it wes all regained by a fine kick by Keogh. Play was near the Blues' twenty-five line when a scrum was formed, from which Lang secured the ball and passed to Thomas, who made a good pot at goal, but it went wide of the posts. Alter the kick out Davie showed up well, making a splendid run before he was collared. Then Owen, J. Torrance, Sonntag, and Montgomery dribbled the ball down the field, and when within 30 yards of the Colours' goal line Owen got clean away, and was over the line in a twinkling. He took the kick himself, but did not improve the score. For some time play was in . the centre and was uninteresting until Keogh dashed away, but he was soon brought to a stop. M'lntyre passed to Restieauz, who was successful in getting over the Blues' line ; but Thomas was on top of him, and after a maullastingforßeveral minuses a scrum was formed five yards from the goal posts. Rallinshaw was mainly instrumental in clearing the lines, and the Blues carried the ball to mid field, where Noel started on a sprint, but Lang stopped him. Robertson, Millar, D. Torrance, and Ternent helped to take thejalay into the Blues' territory, near the quarter flag, but Crawford shifted it back to the centre. Noel was once more making off, but he was grassed heavily by Thomas 'without gaining many yards. Crawford obtained a free lsick and placed the ball for Torrance, but the Blues' goal posts were a long way off, and no score was made. Thomas ran well down the ground, but Ncel tackled him and brought him to grass. Then Keogh and Davie showed some really scientific play in passing, and carried the ball into the Blues' territory, but Noel became possessed of it Bnd made a short dodgy run. The Blues' forwards got it and carried everything before them, and Noel got over the line near one of the corner flags. The kick at goal fell short. Half-time was called with the scores standing equal, each side having i a point to their credit. In the second spell Keogh and Restieaux exchanged places. When the ball was set rolling for the second time play ■ was very fast. M'lntyre secured a mark, and Torrance took a kick at goal, but it was not successful, and a scrum was formed in the Colours' territory. The forwards then rushed the ball down the field to within 10 yards of the Blues' goal posts. Things were very exciting while the ball remained here for several minutes, until Thomas made off, Noel's attempt to stop him being unsuccessful. Owen made a bold attempt to score, and but for Thomson, who tackled splendidly, he would have been over. For a little while the leather was in ail quarters of the field, and at last Montgomery passed to Lang, who threw to Owen, and a lot of ground was gained, but Noel once more showed up in a sprint, which was stopped by I Thomas. From a scrum Lang got clean away ' by a very smart run, but Thomson was in the way, and brought him to earth. Lang was slightly hurt, bat took his usual place in a few minutes. However, the Blues' forwards secured the ball, and EequiI lant succeeded in getting behind the posts. Thomas took the kick, bat ife was not successful, and the score stood ; Blues, 2 points ; Colours, 1 poiut. After the ball was again set in motion a scrum was formed near the Colours'"quarterflag, and Cran dribbled the ball over the line and scored another try. Montgomery took the kick, but it was fruitless. Scores : Blues, 3 points ; Colours, 1" point. Davie kicked out, but the ball struck Montgomery and bounded back, and without the least opposition — the Goloara having started to follow np the ball when Davie kicked — Montgomery got the leather and walked over the line, registering the fourth iry. Thomas took the kick, but the score was no 6 enhanced. Blues, 4 points f * Colours, X point. Not long

afterwards Owen got over ihe Colours' line, but Davie collared him before he touched down, and in a maul he was roiled out into the field. From this point to the end play was very fast, and the forwards on both sides worked hard, but no further score was made.

In D, Torrance's long and successful career as a footballer Saturday's match is the first time he has captained a losing team.. The match Taranaki v. Wanganui came off at Wanganui on Saturday before a large number of spectators. The Taranaki team averaged a stone heavier than the local team. Taranaki were favourites, and no one looked for more than 9 draw for the local team, so that the result of the game — a win for Wanganui by 9 points to 4 — was a complete surprise. Taranaki had all the best of the first spell, and scored 4 points to nothing. In the second spell the local team making the play loose completely turned the tables on the visitors — scoring three goals, of which one was potted. The interprovincial football match Nelson v. Wairarapa was played a"t Nelson on the 11th inst, in lovely weather, and in the presence of 500 spectators. In the first spell the visitors scored a goal and 4n the second got an easy try, which was not converted. The Nelson team made no score in the first spell, but secured a try in the second, but no goal resulted, the 'visitors thns'winning by 4 points to 1. The gable was very. fast throughont, excellent form beiug shown by both teams. A very friendly feeling prevailed throughout the game, and the visitors were heartily congratulated on their victory.

The football match Palmerston v. Maniototo Coucty was flayed on Saturday afternoon. Just' before the game commenced, rain began to fall and continued throughout the match, making matters rather unpleasant, and the ground and ball very slippy, so that a scientific contest was cat of question. The visitors showed a want of combination as the game progressed. The game was played in two spells of 35min each, and resulted in a win for the home team by foor tries one goal (7 points) to nil. Messrs Smeaton and Clements held the flags, and Mr Crosby Morris (of .Dunedin) the whistle, but they were not troubled much, as the game was contested in the bsst spirit throughout, although infringements of the rales were frequent enough, the home team being the principal delinquents. The visitors were entertained by the qlub at a dinner and smoke concert in tbe evening. , It is contemplated to play the return match in a fortnight if possible. A Christchurch telegram states that the probable fifteen to play against Otago defeated an eighteen on Saturday afternoon by seven goals and five tries to a goal and a try. The winners showed )greatly improved form.

The match First Church Young Men'g Association y. St. Andrew's Church Young Men's Association was played on Montecillo, and after a well contested game, resulted in a' w,in for the St. Andrew's team by 5 points (one goal and two tries) to 3 points (one goal). The match Pacific First v. Taieri (mixed), which was played on the latter's ground, resulted in a win for the Pacific by B'pointa to 3. For the Taieri, Elder, Stevenson, and Mellsop played we)], as did Butler, Brookp, Hurrell,Hambleton, Sullivan, and King.