SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 22 May 1890, Page 28

SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

A large concourse of spectators assembled on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday afternoon to witness the contest between the Kaikorai and Pirates Club. Torrance kicked off from the southern end, and play centred in the Pirates' twenty-five, a force down being recorded almost immediately from a kick over the line. Lang kicked out, aod Laurenson returned the ball. Oran then cut off a pass in fine style, and carried the play up to the Blues' twenty-five, where the ball was taken over the line in a loose scramble, a force down in favour of the Pirates being the result. The kiok out left the play in the centre of the field, whence Keogh broke away and started a passing run, which eventuated in a well-earned try being got by Rae. This score was obtained within seven minutasof thekick-off. Torrance failed toconvert the try. After some give-and-take play Lang arid Orbell were chiefly instrumental in putting the Kaiborai on the defensive, but the Blues cleared their lines by smothering the passes of their opponents. C. Morris (who was in the thick of the struggle all the afternoon), with the assistance of Atkinson, returned to the attack, and Orbell supplemented their efforts by taking the ball to within a few yards of the Kaikorai lines. Duncan came to the rescue with a good piece of dribbling, but the Pirates, with C. Morris, Beck, and Cran especially prominent, kept up the attack with vigour for 10 or 15 minutes. They were unable to get through, however, although a claim for a try was made on behalf

of C. Morris, and eventually good kicking by Claff ey and M'intyre relieved the Kaikorai lines, and the forwards carried the ball on into the Pirates' territory. Keogh made some determined efforts to score, bub Atkinson, seizing an opportunity that presented itself, transferred the play to the centre. Keogh, exhibiting his bett form, had the ball back again by a splendid " tricky " run, but a force-down was the barren result. The kick out brought no relief to the Pirates, and after a clever display of passing among the Kaikorai backs, Laurenson was loudly cheered for potting a neat goal. The kick off was followed by play in the Blues' twenty-five, when half time was called. As on the previous Saturday the Blacks started the second spell with a vigorous onslaught on their opponents' lines, where a determined defence was met with. Finally a hard kick out ot scrum near the Kaiko- ' rai lines brought about a force-down. After some [ oscillating play, ( in which Keogh, Wingfield, Atkinson, and &. Morris took prominent parts, the ball found its way back to the Blacks' quarters, and a force down was registered against the Pirates. After the kick out the first noteworthy incident was a fine piece of dribbling by A. Morris, which took the ball into the Blues' quarters. Laurensou replied with a good kick, and D. Thompson, obtaining a mark, placed the ball for Torrance, whose kick was fruitless but was not returned, the play remaining in the Pirates' twenty-five. Keogb, Laurenson, M'lntyre, and Rae executed some fine passing runs, but Arthur and Crosby Morris transferred the ball to the opposite end of the ground. A free kick brought it back, and Keogh took it up to the line, where Ballantyne fell across, obtaining a try, which was uot enhanced. From this time out the Pirates played splendidly, their forwards doing especially good service, and the Kaikorai were kept on the defence. Lang was the first to show up with a dodgy run, and then Cran made a good run, not being stopped until he was under the Kaikorai goal, where he lost the ball, a force down being recorded. The play continued very fast, and the Blues had to force down again — an operation which they had to repeat once more shortly afterwards, tvhen Cran had a pot which went dangerously close to the goal. There was no further score, however, and a rattling good game resulted in favour of last year's premiers by 5 points to nC. The match Alhambra v. Zingari-Ricbmond was played on the North ground (which was kindly lent by the Union Club) in the presence of a large number of spectators. The former won the toss and Rallinshaw haviug set the ball in motion, play was at once rushed into the Reds' quarters, when from a throw in from touch Price scored for the Colours. Fitchett kicked off, and the Colours came with another rush, pressing their opponents very hard for a time, until the Reds' forwards at last warmed up, and came away with a good rush, carrying the ball into the Colours' twenty-five, where they were well stopped by M'Arthur. Here a scrum was former), when the Reds were awarded a free kick for offside play. Restieaux took the kick, but kept too close to the opposing forwards and the ball was charged down. The Reds were on it like a shot, M'Donald starting a fine piece of passing, which resulted in Crawford scoring behind the posts, Restieaux afterwards securiug the major point. Rallinshaw lost no time in kicking off, but the Reds again drove them back to their line. The Reds were again awarded a free kick for off side play. Restieaux took the kick, which was close to the half-way flag, «»nd made a good attempt, the ball falling just under the bar. This was a narrow shave for the Colours, and it seemed to move them to greater exertions, for from this till call of half time they successfully checked the rushes of their opponents. M'Cleary kicked off for the second spell, the ball being well returned by Wintrop to the centre flag. From the throw in a scrum was formed, and the Colours' forwards carried the ball to their opponent's twenty-five, but the Reds' I forwards soon had the play shifted. Baker then i kicked down the field, M'Cleary and Crawford followed up well, the latter scoring. After the kick out, Noel again scored after a fine piece of passing among the backs, and Restieauz lost no time in enhancing the score. When the Colours kicked off Fitchett returned, and the forwards following up Bmartly and playing steadily Ternent scored, Restieaux again converting. The Colours appeared to play much better until the Reds camo away with a good passing rush, M'Donald scoring near the corner flag. The kick at goal resulted in a poster. Soon after this time was called, j the game resulting in a win for the Albambra j by three goals and two tries (11 points) to onr try (1 point). The Alhambra intend to appeal against the try scored against them. The match Union v. Taieri was played on the Taieri ground, and ended in a draw. Anderson set the ball in motion, and h was well returned into touch by Croxford. The Taieri played a tight game ; the Union doing likewise, falling into the trap set by the Taieri forwards. After the throw in the ball was kicked by Mackie to M'Lennan, and was well returned into touch by that player. From a passing run the ball was kicked down to Pram, who fumbled, allowing Gordon, who was following up well, to gain the ball, and he crossed the line in the embraces of the full back, when a maul ensued, resulting in a decision being given in favour of the Taieri, the Union man's legs having gone into touch in goal during the struggles of the maul. Taieri kicked off, and, headed by Anderson and Allan, followed up well, Pollock relieving by kicking into touch, j Through the repeated attacks of the Taieri for- j wards, the Uiiiou backs were engaged busily defending their lines, Pollock being compelled to force down. The Union kicked out, and the forwards rushing the ball well up the field, penned the Taieri in their twenty-five. From a loosebitof play M'Lennan got the ball and potted a beautiful goal. This seemed to put the Taieri on their mettle, and their forwards then played with greater dash, and rushing the ball down the field penned the Union in their twenty-five. The ball was passed out to Elder, who looked very like scoring till he was well grassed by Pollock. • Loose play now carried the ball to the Taieri twenty- five, where the Union forwards threw away the chance of scoring by passing repeatedly into Elder's hands. The Taieri, headed by Elder, Murdoch, and Anderson, carried the ball to within a few yards of the Union's line, where Stevenson gained possession, but Pollock proved too much for him, collaring him just in the nick of time. The Union then made a passing rush, and Gordon ran to within a few yards of the Taieri line, where, if he had been backed up, a score must have taken place. The Taieri forwards, headed by Allan brothers, Anderson, and Mann, rushed the ball to mid field, where some more "scrum " play] took place. M'Farlane got a mark, Beadle making a good attempt, bub the ball went outside the posh In the second spell the Union forwards broke up the pcrums, but the Taieri forwards following up well penned the Union in their twenty-five. The ball was passed to Murdoch, who ran in unopposed and scored between the posts, Mackie placing a neat goal. The garae now became fast and furious, but there was no further score. The High School v. Ravonsbourno match was played at Ravenebourne aud rejulfcrd after a ' wrangling game in the defeat of the Ravens-

bourne by one try to nil. The decision of the referee and of the School umpire was disputed, and as a result the School team left the field. There can be no doubt that the try was a fair one, and it showed a great lack of courtesy on the part of the Ravensbourne to dispute it in the way they did. The match Union Second v. Taieri Second, played at Mosgiel on Saturday, resulted in a win for the latter by one try to nil. The Melrose Club beat the Excelsior by 8 points to nil. The Pirates Third journeyed to Port Chalmers on Saturday, and suffered defeat at the hands of the Port Second by 3 points to 1. The match Dunedin v. University was played on the Caledonian ground on Saturday, and resulted in a win for the former by four goals and four tries (18 points) to nil. Tries were obtained by Hunter (1), Turton (1), J. Martin (,2), I M'Robie (2), Isaacs (1), Austin (1). The forwards were pretty evenly matched in scrum work ; but in the quick, open play, the Dark Blues showed that they are as formidable as ever, and were a bit too good for their opponents. The backe on both eide3 played well, although special praise must be given to the 'Varsity full back M'llroy, who saved his side time after time. The first match of the season between teams from Green Island and Walton Schools took place at Walton on Saturday, the 17th inst., when the Walton Schoolboys won by 7 points to 1. The Melrose Second Fifteen beat Clifton by 3 points to nil. A Wellington telegram states that between 3000 and 4000 people assembled at Newtown Park to witness the heat for the championship between the Poneke and Melrose Football Clubs. The Ponekes were decided favourites, but the the younger club played splendidly, and the game ended in their favour by 4 points (a goal and a try) to nil. The forwards were equally matched, but the backs of the Melrose team played far and away ahead of those of their opponents. At the Hutt the Athletics defeated the Epuni Club by 8 points to ml. A Christcburch telegram states that in the senior championship matches on Saturday East | Christchurch caused quite a sensation by def eatI ing Canterbury College by three goals to a goal and a try. The game was a fast one, but the I forward play of Bast Chriatohurch was too much for the College backs. Sydenham beat Addington by four tries to a goal. The trial match between teams selected from the various clubs forming the Otago Football | Association was played on the Caledonian ground on Saturday. The woather was fine j and the ground in very fair condition, but the heavy rain which fell in the morning had thoroughly wetted the grass, which caused the ball to be very slippery. The first item of special note in the game was a capital run by P. Ross for the Colours, but Smith prevented a score by giving a corner. Shortly after this, or 20 minutes from trie start, M'Millan made a good run for the Blues, but the ball was badly fumbled in front of goal, and it was purely by good luck that a score resulted, for the final effort was not worthy of Buccess. Eight minutes afterwards goal No. 2 was registered by A. Carver for the Blues with a light-ning-like shot, which no goalkeeper living could have stopped. The same player was soon again to the fore with a very pretty run, ending with a pass to M'Millan, who scored the third point with a daisy-cutter, and just before half-time W. Carver put on No. 4 for the Blues from a full kick for a deliberate foul in the mouth of the goal. So far as may be judged from the above, the Blues had been having all the best of it. Indeed, except for occasional breaks away on the part of the Colours by Ross and Anderson the play was entirely at the Colours' end of the ground. At half time some change was made in the constitution of the teams, Anderson retiring and Haynes taking his place. Walker also joined the Colours' ranks as centre forward, thus making them 12 men to 11, and the goalkeepers changed sides in order that the Selection Committee might see how Smith would shape if he had gome work. And right well he came through the ordeal, for be had plenty to do. The Colours wore the first t® score this time by the aid of H. Smith, after a good run by Haynes. The alteration in the teams made some difference for about half an hour, during which time the play was much more even, but then the Blues' forwards, playing better together than they had yet done, gave the opposing backs a warm time of it, and they scored two more goals (one by A. Carver, the other rebounded off Groves), and so won the match by six goals to one. The Selection Committee met immediately after the conclusion of the match, and selected the following team to represent Otago in the contest with Canterbury, which is to be played at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Monday, 26th inst.: — G. Smith (goal), J. Morris and Moncrieff (backs), Groves, J. Laing, and Salmond (half backs), Pollock and Gardner (right wing), A. Carver (centre), G. M'Millan and P. Ross (left wing) ; reserves — Grigg (goal), Munro (back), Leslie 1, Haynes 2 (half backs), Jameson (right wing), Haynes (centre), H. Smith (left wing). A Christchurch telegram states that the following will represent Canterbury in the Association football match against Otago at Lancaster Park on Monday next: — Goal keeper: Simpson Taylor. Backs : T. Todhunter, G. E. Rhodes. Half backs : A. Harper, A. Moss, T. Maude. Forwards: Right wing— J. Turnbull, J. D. Hall; left wiug— Rutherford, Coglan ; centre — Fisher.