SOUTHLAND NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 30

SOUTHLAND NOTES.

Last Wednesday the Star and Pirates met on the Union ground for the last time this season. The weather was fine, the ground was in fair condition, and there was n good attendance of the public. The Star learn was the weakest they have had in the field this year — Hamilton, Ward, Sherwood, and Myers being absent from the forward division ; while the Pirates were weakened by the absence ot Muntiplay from the forwards, but had strengthened their backs by playing Derby in place of Jarvis. When the teams took the field the Star was noticed to have only 13 men, and Mills, who was playing in the Second Fifteen match on the Western roserre, had to be sent for, while Cuff was expected by the Bluff train. It was fully 20 minutes before the two took their places on the field. Immediately after the kick off the Pirates were hemmed in their own twenty-five, where play remained for about 15 minutes, during which time they were forced down three times. After that tho game became more even, but the Star still had the best of it, though the ground gained by the fine passing rushes which their backs indulged in did not turn out so advantageous as it might have done, on account of the weakness of the forwards, who generally lost what was gained. When the spell was about half over Murphy, who was figuring very prominently in a passing rush which took the ball from the Star twentyfive to the Pirates line, stretched a sinew in his ankle and was obliged to leave the field. This was a heavy loss to the Star, for Murphy is and always has been the mainstay of the Star forwards. After a number of determined attempts to score by the Star, which only resulted in another force down against the Pirates, the spell ended without' any score on either side.

Ab the beginning of the second spell the Pirates were again penned in their own territory and were playing without Leonard, who did not come on the field after the spell. After a number of scrums Hawthorn got a pass and ran in, a maul ensuing which resulted in favour of the Star, but the kick was a failure. After this the Star was hard pressed for some time, bnt succeeded in clearing their lines without any score against them and earring the leather into the Pirates' twenty-five, forcing them down once more. After the kick out the Pirates got on a passing rush and Hawthorn stopped his man, who passed to Derby, who, just as Cockroft was rushing into him, bounced the ball on his knee and N. M'Robie following up with Kane at his back a hot race ensued which Kane looked like winning had not the ball bounced back off a mound into the hands of M'Robie, who touched it down near the posts, and the kick resulted in a goal being placed to the Pirates' credit. After the kick off the Star made mighty efforts to score, but only succeeded in forcing "their opponents down twice and the game ended leaving the scores Pirates 5 points, Star 2 points.

For the winners, Duncan, in the loose, and N. M'Robie and Anthony in tho scrums" were the pick of the forwards, but tho last named need not have played so roughly. There is no necessity to throw a man down and worry him as a dog does a cat. Certainly throw your man, but not so rough, " Doozzle." Of the backs Rodgers was the best, and played his best game this season, showing a great improvement in his kicking and tackling. Tapper was very smart at half, and as usual was not particular how much off-side he played so long as the referee did not catch him ; and Derby, who made his first appearance as a wing threequarter in the first fifteen, acquitted himself with credit. IJkeensteen, though he has improved latoly, is no three-quarter, and missed some capital chances to score. Of the Star forwards Murphy, while he played, was the best L while Hughes, Kane, and the Ramsay brothers all played a hard game, and Knucky, who has been playing three-quarter all tho season, played forward and worked hard, but did not seem to fall in with the forwards' style of play and several times played into his opponents hands. Jenkins was the best behind the scrum, and D. M'Robie, his fellow half, was in capital form and was seen to great advantage. Cuff, who has just returned from the country took Knucky's place, and played his second game tbjs season, and did so very creditably, but was inclined So get too near the scrum. Donaldson, though not in his usual form, was the best three-quarter on the field. Hawthorn was apt to over-run the ball, but otherwise played a very fair game, while Cockroft did not seem to be himself, his kicks being not so long as u c unl and on one occasion he looked very like trying to kick a goal for the Pirates. After the above match Riverton and Invercargill took the field. On account of the lateness of the hour the game had to be played in two spells of 30 minutes each and the last spell was not finished. The Invercargill team was rather a. weak one and they had all they knew to keep their lines clear. Tho game was a fast one — more so than the other one, and was much more interesting. It ended in a draw, neither side scoring. The Invercargill backs did not play so well as they have done. Grenfell seems to have fallen off since the beginning of the season. Russell at full back

played very well, and is fneb coming to the front. Ashcroft and Martin were the best of the forwards. For Riverton Twemlow and Molloy .wore the pick of the forwards. The former seems to have got into his elder brother's style on the line out. Mills and the wing three-quarter on the left — who is a very cool player, aud kicks over his head just as easy as any other way, and who ought to have n say in the Southland team this year along with the full back — were the best of the backs.

It was a pitiful sight on Wednesday to see five of the Star cripples marching around with very serious faces on when their team was making unavailing efforts to score. Since the end of last season the Star has lost no less than eleven men, seven of whom had gained interprovincial honours. In spite of this, however, the club is again premier for the fourth year. lb is rumoured thab Jenkins aud Murphy will not play in the trial matches this season. It means a serious loss to Southland if the best back and the best forward in the province do not take part in the interprovincial match. The Southland team will be weak in the threequarters this season, and the forwards will not bo particularly strong. Tho first trial match takes place on August 10, when the town and country teams meet.

The Star and Pirates seconds mob on bhe Western reserve, when the Star was defeated by 12 points to nil. Tho Star played with 14 men, Mills being called away to play for the first, and ib was also weakened by bho four men who had to fill the vacant places in tho first team.

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