SATURDAY'S MATCHES. The Rugby Game.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 32

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. The Rugby Game.

The return match between the Kaikorai and University teams wa,s played at Tahuna Park, where, despite the wet weather, the ground was in excellent order. The result of the game was a victory for the Kaikorai by 11 points to 4. Cran kicked eff for the Light Blues, tbe ball being well returned into touch. The Kaikorai, securing the leather from the line out, soon carried the ball into their opponents' twentyfive, where a sure score was loßt through hard kcking en the part of one of the Colours' for-WJ-rds. Cran again set the ball in motion, and a few minutes later, from a scrum in the 'Varsity twenty-five, H. Wilkinson, bringing t.ho ball nicely through, bcored first blood for hia side. K»rr made a very we<-k attempt with the place kick. Saortly afterwards Wilkinson, who had been placing with groat da^b, received a knock, and was obliged to retire. Within the next 10 minutes Kaikorai added 8 points to ths-ir peore— J. Davie securing a try, which Kerr again failed to convert ; whi'e Davis was responsible for the third, Woods taking the place kick and sending the ball fairly over the bar.

On the teams changing ends it became apparent to all that the Kaikorai were goiug to have a warm time of it, for in a very short time they were penned in their twenty-five. From a tight Bcrum the ball, being heeled our, was p issed to O'Shea, who simply " brought down the house" by potting a splendid goal. This seemed to put a damper on the Colours' forwards, for during the rest of the game it was all they could do to keep their twenty-five clear. Duncan (who was suffering from a sprained ankle) and Davis did their best to rouse their team, but it was no use: for once, at least, the Kaikorai had met their match.

Of the winners, special mention must be made of Torrance, Davie, Davis, and King— the last-mentioned piaying exceptionally well. On the 'Varsity side no one can lay claim to superiority, as all seemed to be straining every nerve, while the fact that the premiers could not score after the first half hour speaks volumes for theic opponents. Mr Smeaton controlled the game with such skill and fairness that not a dissentient voice was heard during the day.

Notwithstanding the wet weather the match between the Alhambra and Pirates was played on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday afternoon. The ground after the heavy rain of the previous night was in a very unfit state for play, and, as a consequence, anything like a good display of fojtbi.ll was out of the question. As a general rule if a player kicked hard he found himself the next minute on the broad of his back, and the referee could not maintain an upright position on several occasions. For the first 20 minutes after the kick off the Alhambra kept up a determined attack on the Pirates' quarters, from which tries were obtained by W. Elder and Pollock, but the kicks were failures. There was somo very neat passing among the backs, but this was invariably spoilt by Smyth, who time after time failed to take the ball. The game for the rest of the spell became moro open, and the oval was rushed from one end of the field to the other, its only resting place being in one of the numerous pools of water that were lying about. Into this the players would dash and kick at the ball, with the invariable result of missing it and sending up showers of water. From a loose rush the Pirates kicked the ball over the line, and after a regular scramble Johnston was successful in retaining it in his embrace, in which endeavour several had failed. It is open to question whether this should not have been given as a force down to Ross, who touched the ball down but failed to keep it.

Oa ends being changed the play was of a very similar description to that of the first spell. By hard kicking and fast following up Johnston and Priest drove the oval from the centre across the Alhambra line, and Priest scored alongside the goal post, but failed in the attempt at goal. From this to the call of time the players on both sides tried their hardest to score, but were unsuccessful, the game ending in a draw each team having obtained two tries., Considering the state of the ground, some of the backs on both sides took the ball wonderfully well, the most noticeable being Carrie, Pollock, (jrawfurd, -and Robs (Alhambra), and Thomson, Macarthur, Macassey, and Shand (Pirates). Mr R. M. Falconer acted as referee, and, under very trying circumstances, came through the ordeal with credit.

In spite of the inclemency of the weather the Warehousemen Club journeyed to Ravensbourne to play the local team. After a closely-contested game victory rested with the visitir-g t( an by 6 points (two tries)) scored by R. Hutchison and J. Melville, to nothing. For the winners, Mason (bick), and Fletcher, Bagwood, and Mason (forwards) also played well. For the Ravensbourne Mockford, Harold, and Minn (the latter of whom was a host in himself, his splendid play saving his sida again and again) played well.

The Caversham journey td to Mosgiel t» try conclusions with the West Taieri team, who agreed to meet them halfway on the Factory ground. Owing to the muddy state of the ground very little good football was shown, dribbling rushes being the principal feature of tbe game. In the first spell M'Kerrow kicked high, and following up in good style again obtained the ball and scored, the kick being a failure. Shortly after Simpson scored from a loose rush, but the try was not converted. In the second spell Lawry scored near the posts, the kick again being a failure. The play at this point became very exciting. The West Taieri forward?, playing with great spirit, rushed the ball down the field and several times were within an ace of scoring. The Caversham responded to the call of their captain by a return rush, and Simpson again scored a try near the corner flag, which it is needless to say was not converted into a goal. The West Taieri then made things very lively, and one of their three-quarters, who followed up nicely, scored near the posts. The kick was a failure. From this to call of time neither team had any the best of the game, thus leaving the Caversham winners by 12 points to 3. M'Phail and Monk put in a lot of work for the West Taieri. Mr Davidson gave general satisfaction as referee.

The Zingari-Richmond Second journeyed to Mosgiel and defeated the local Second Fifteen by 19 points (one goal and five tries) to nothing. Tries were obtained by Ward, Austin (2), Mahone, and Proctor, and Pollock potted a goal. The ground was in very bad condition, owing to the raised track banking up the water. The game was very fast and open, bat the home team was completely outclassed in the forward division, while the visiting backs were certainly points ahead of their opponents, especially in the passing department of the game.

The return match between the Caveraham Second and the Pacific Second was played at St Clair Park before a large crowd of spectators. The Caversham kicked off, and somß fast rushes up and down the field followed. King and Olson got away in splendid style and took the ball right up to the Pacific line, but were nicely stopped by the full back. From a scrum Christie secured pos-ession, and dodging several of the Pacific scared a try, th; kick beiug fruitless. Ia the se^ou.l spell the Caver<.ham kept their opponents ce ? ending their li c for some time. King eventually got pegs ission, and after a good run scored, the kick again being a failure After the kick out the PaciQc rushed the ball down the field and looked like scoring, keeping their opponents pinned on the line for some time. Eventually the Caversham removed the play with a good rush, headed by King, Coxon, and Christie. Urquhart at this stage made a splendid run and crossed the line, but lost the ball in falling, a force down resulting. From this to call of time the ball was kept going from one end of the field to the other, neither side having any the bpst of the game.

The match Excelsinr v. Anderston was not pliyed owing to the Anderston failing to keep their appointment, tbu? the Excelsior claim the match.

The matches Zingari v. Taieri and Union v. Dunbdin were cried off owing to the inclemency of the weather.