SATURDAY'S MATCHES. RUGBY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 23

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. RUGBY.

The Cavershom and Kaikorai football loams met to try conclusions at Bishopscourt. Ia the first spell Kaikorai had a long way the best of their opponents, the play being confined to the C&ver*h»m quarters during nearly the whole of the spell. Not long after play commenced Duncan made an opening, and, passing to Cunningham, enabled the latter to score. Tor'anca took the k : ck, bat nothing came of it. A good passing rush by Davis, Dunc&a, Cunningham, and Armit subsequently resulted in the lait-mentioned crowing the C&versham lines near the corner flag ; while Sinc'air afterwards got possession of the bill and passed to Wood, who scored. Neither try was enhanced, and the sp'll closed without any further score. In the eeuond epsll O&versbaoi wurmad up more to their work, and a'though they were ve-y hard pressed they gave a better account of themselves. Lawry, soon after tbe teams changed ends, encouraged his side by kicking a goal from near the centre of the field from a place kick, the opportunity to do this being afforded him by one of the Civeraham men obtaining a mark. Ths kick, which was a 6plcndid one, elicited cheera from th 3 crowd. D*vis afterwards got hold of the leather and paafod to Duncau, who obtained another try for Kaikorai. Torrance again was unsuccessful with the kick. Just a few minutea before the game concluded Davis started a passing rush, in which Sinclair, Duucan, Cunningham, and Wood took part, the last mentioned sloping. The kick at goal by Torrance did not improve matters, and the game closed soon afterwards. Mr Campbeil acted as referee. Scores : Kaikorai ... 15 points Cavereham ... 4 points

The match Zingari-Richmond v. Union was played on the North ground in the presence of a large concourse of spectators, Mr D. Torrance acting as referea From tbe kick-off the Union forwards carried the leather into the Zingari's quarters, and the Colours' lines wera momentarily in dungar. A good dribbling rush, however, neutralised matters, bub from a scrum near the twenty-fire Hue the Union backs carried the ball once more iuto the Ziogari'e territory, where Minn made a slashing run and : transferred to Boyd, who scored. The kick, waa unsuccessful. A good deal of scrum work aliout the Zingaxi's twenty-five was the feature of the succeeding play, until the Colours, headed by M'Fj«lane, rushed the leather down the field, and R<;id touched down. The try waa not converted. In the second spell the Maroons had far the best of the game, and made repeated attacks on their opponents' lines. On one occasion a score seemed inevitable, Boyd, in fact, getting across the lina, but th<* ball was called back for an infringanneat of the rules. By a good Huh the Zingari forwards carried the leather outside the twenty-five lfne, where Armstrong secured a mark off Hcbbs, from which M'Lennan made a good attempt at goal. The ball bjing returned well down the field, a scrum ensued. The Union's backs quickly securing the ball it reached the hinds of | D-edge, who made a briliiaet run, and was collared near the CDrner flag. A few minutes after h* got the ball again, this t'mo from Dooglas, and scrambling across touched down. Minn took the kick, but failed. Piay fcom this to the call of time was mostly in the Maroons' favour, the Colours seldom gefctin? near enough tc have a chance to score. The scores thus were: Union... ... 6 points Zin«ari ... 3 points The match between the Dunedin and Alhambra Club 3 (which was controlled by Mr R M. Falconer) was played on th* Caledouian ground before a fairly large number of spectators. What wind there was blew lowardi the bnrbour, and the Dark Bkns had the br^za at their backs in the first HpeU. The play was even all through the first half, first; one side then tbe other having the advantage, and it wai not until play had proceeded for about half an h<mr that Mason secured a try from a scrum that wa9 formed very close to the Alhambra's line, and the same player converted. The first spell ended without any additional score. The Colours bad the beat of the play in the second half, and Rtstieaux had three shots at goal from penalty kicks, none of which was successful, though two of them were very fine efforts. Though the Alhambra vrere repeatedly in the Blues' territory they failed to reduce the majority against them, and the game ended : Dunedin „. 5 points Alhambra , Nil The match bat ween the Pir&res and University Club 3 was played on the Carisbrook ground, the hom9 team starting from the pavilion end. Tiie first spell, though evonly 1 contested, was somewhat uninterejting, the play being largely confined to tha feiwaida.

O'Shea had two Ineffectual place-kicks ftt the Pirates' goal, the homo beam having been penalised in eaoh case — on one oco&sion in a very dangerous position— and Gregg potted unsuccessfully at the University goal. Towards the end of the spell, from a scrum in the Blacks' quarters, the ball came out to the attacking lide and was pasted to M'Ara, who slipped across the line, bat O'Shea failed with the kick. In the second spell the Pirates attacked from the jump with great determination, and after a few minutes' play a free kick, granted to them on account of off-side play on their opponents' part, resulted in Matheeon placing a goal and thus equalising tho scores. The Pirates continued to press, and after Martin and Matheson by combined work hud carried the ball to the University's line, it was heeled out to Landels, who promptly carried it across. Matheson's kick was again ftuccessfal. The play after this was of a give-and-take character, and altfibugh the Blues rallied just before the close* and attacked warmly, there was no further score, and the match resulted : Pirates „. 8 points University ... 8 points The Melrose defeated the Pacific by a goal and a try (,8 points) to a penalty goal (3 points). The Union Second, playing the ZingariRichmond, at Moutecillo, won by the large score of 21 points to nothing. Tue SUr defeated the High School (mixed team) by 3 points to nothing. The Kaikorai Second d3feated the C*versham Second by 3 points to uobhiig, The^Aihambra Second defeated the Dunedin Second by 24 points to 11 points. No score was registered in the match ak Mosgiel between the Taieri and Warehousemen Clabs. The Melrose and Pacific Second Fifteens played a drawn match. Tb.B High street Sohool beab the Normal School by 3 points to nothing. ASSOCIATION. The Rangers First met tho Mornington First at Mornington. Holgata won tha toss for the homo team, and elected to play uphill against the wind, which was blowing freshly. From the kick-off the Raagera managed to keep the play near their opponents' goal, where it remained pretty wall all the spell, excepting on the occasion of a few good rushes by the Mornington. The good defence of the Mornington backs .and s->me bad shooting of the Rangers alike prevented a score being run up, and the first spell resulted in the Bangers leading by 1 to nothing. Bight at the commencement of the second spell the Mornington succeeded in equalising the score, Nagle heading a fine -goal from a corner kick. For a time .thing* looked bkck for the Bangers, but they worked with a will, and in spite of a heavy head wind the forwards assailed the Momingbon goal more than once, and in one of their rushes gained the winning goal. Mr Fiadlay made an efficient referee, and his decisions, which were given promptly, < were well takaa by both aides. Scores .• Rangers ... 2 goals Mornington ... Igoal

The ftoslyn Second defeated the Zealandia Second by 4 goals to nothing.

The Rangers Second defeated the Mornington Second by 6 goals to 1.

The Northern Second decisively defeated the Queen* Park Second, scoring 12 goals to nothing.

The Green Is^nd Clab held a practice match, the Probables being defeated by the All-comers by 1 goal (scored by A. Lindsay) to nothing.