THE RUGBY GAME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 35

THE RUGBY GAME.

Tho first match of the season between "Oft : Kaikozai and Dunedin Olubs w»s played on , Saturday afternoon on tbe Bishopsoburo ground in the presence of a large number olj spectators. Mr J. R. Montgomery aoted af ' referee. The Dunediu played down-hill daring - the opening spall, and during, the first 10 minutes or so of the game flattered theifl supporters by pressing their opponents. The play was keen, but tbe ball seldom was allowed to cime out). When the p)»y opened up some? what the Kaikorai, through the instrumentality of Davis, Duncan, and Armit, set the Blue defending, and had a couple of ohances o scoring through the medium of penalty kicks. Murphy made a fairly good effort with the fin r kick, but tike second, whioh was from " i plaos directly in front/ of the goal, wa I a miserable failure, A good high puns | by Stephemon shifted the venae to the KMkorai's end, but nob Tor long, tbe homoteaio playing vigorously, and driving the Blues before them up-hill. Maokemsie, Mfeiog an opening^ however, dropped well down the field, and, tni| kick being smartly followed up, the last stage* of the spell were fought out in the Ktdkoraf quarters. The second half bad not been lons started whea the Blues were in trouble, ana they had one or two narrow escape*. On oh* occasion Johnstons ran over hi* own goal line, where be parted with the ball, whioh luokily fell into the hands of another member of his side, and » faw mintues later Sinclair ran to the >' Dnnedin goal line, and than passed towards ■ Woods, the ball being intercepted, however, by Stephenson. A gdod rush by the Blues' fot- ' wards 'cleared their quarters, ' and created some excitement, but the Kaikorai quickly returned to the attack, and Moipbft who during the afternoon "signally failed to redeem the promise he gave a week. previously of developing into a place-kicker, had a fruitless shot at goal from a free kick. The Eaikorai continued to press, and after the balL with Duncan in hot pursuit, had become dead oa one occasion behind the 'Danedin line, Armn dashed ncrou near the corner flag. The try was not improved by Murphy. ' The Blues frequently infringed the rules within range of their goaL and after Torrance had had an ineffectual ahoi Woods pat the ball over from an easy position, - In the concluding stage* of the game Armib nearly scored again; Woods following op % kiok diagonally aoross the field from Duncan, was in the act of falling on the ball, across tha line, when Stephenson kicked it dead from underneath him ; and Woods subsequent^ made a good attempt to pot a goal, but when the whistle sounded there had been no addition to the score, and the game endad t Eaikorai ... 6 points Dunedin Nil'

The matoh between the Union and University teams was witnessed by a small gather* ing of persons at Tahuna Park on Saturday) and the game resulted in a win for the Maroons by 8 points (a goal from a penalty kick and a goal from a try) too points (a try). At the start the Blues made the pace pretty warm, and keptt the game in their opponents' quarters for some time. The Maroons, however, by good forward work shifted the play >tv neutral territory, where frequent scrums and "liae-outo" and good., kioking on both sides were witnesied. Tha 'Varsity fall back, towards the close of the . spell, got bis side into trouble by failing to ' ratnrn, and the Union were several, times oa the point of orossing tbe line. By good ptfty f however/the danger was averted, and tho gams . was shifted back to the twenty-five flag. Un« fortunately for the Bluss, the Union team wero here awarded a tree kick for off-side pl*y, and, although, the angle was a diffioultone, M'Len- ' nan placed a beautiful goal. Before ths spell ended the Maroons again attacked through a bad return of Neil's, but a penalty kick enabled the Blues to dear their lines. In the second half Macdon&ld scored for the University after which the game remained pretty even for about a quarter of an hour, when wan{l of training began .to tell on the Blues, who from this out were mostly on the defensive. The Union secured another try by sorewing a scrum near the corner fl&g, Smith, who secured the leather, meeting with but little opposition, touching down behind the posts. M'Lennaa placed an easy goal. On only one occasion after this did the Blues look like scoring, and after some oapital play the Maroons were forced. The score thus stood : Union ... 8 points University ». 8 point!

The matoh between the Aihambra and Pirates football teams, whioh was played on the Garip* brcok ground on Saturday, resulted in a wm for the latter by a goal (4 points) to nothing. The game was a pretty even one, tho Pirates getting rather the best of it in the first spell, theft opponents having them at a slight disadvaataga in the second spell. Only one score was made during the match. This occurred in the first; spell, when Matheson kicked a goal for the Pirates from opposite the twenty-five flag from a mark obtained by Hay in front of the goaU The game was controlled by Mr Croxiord, . Scores i PiratflS' «*, 4 points Aihambra ... MNQ A large number of people were presenV to witness the matoh at Monteoill'o batween the Zingari-Rlohmond and the Caver* eham teams. ; Mr A, Downes. aoted a« referee* Caversham kioked-ofl against a moderate wind,, and the game became of a give-and-take order, neither side being able to lay claim to , having any material advantage. As the gama advanced the Zingari began to prass them opponents, and towards the end of the spell got) dangerously near the. Oaveisham goal line out several occasions. From an ill-judged kiokftV

Cavanagh, Fordyce obtained a mark in front of goal, whien Harks failed to improve. In the second spell ' the Caveraham, playing with tbe wtad, qukkly worked tbe ball Into their ittbagonists' territory, bat did not keep it there long, and the game' became centrally situated. CavershaM now began. to take tho ball better Jbhan they had been doing, and their passing was an improvement on what they bad shown in tbe earlier part of the game ; but in the JKffum they were completely overmastered by the Zingeri forwards. The game was for a iime of a fluctuating character, but towards she cad tbe ZiogarT played with great da»b, Sand in more than one instance they were nearly '•coring, only being stopped on the'lino. Eventually Olftdbe took a pass from H. Smith and «?rtised tbe lhie near the corner, but Marks, though hemade a good shot at goal, failed with tbfi Wok, and the game ended — Eingari'Richmond 3 points Oaversham ... Nil

The Zmgari-Riohmond Second defeated the Qaversham Seoond at St. Olair Park by 8 points Ja goal from a try and a penalty goal) for 3 points (a try). For the winners Gray scored a try, which was converted by ilftlone, the same player also kioking a penalty goal, and for the Cavereham Bennett scored a try.

■The Ueirose defeated the Warehousemen on the Arylum ground by 12 points (four tries) to nothing. Tries were obtained by Wallace and (Philips (one each), and Waugh (two). Mr F. Starry acted™ referee. ' The. High School First journeyed to Waikouaitf, where they met and defeated the local team by 3 points (a try) to nothing. Greenback gcored for the School. The local team hospitably entertained their visitors, who returned bbeae by tbe express, well pleased ' with their da?-"s outing. . - - . The 'match Melrose Second ,v. Oaversh&m Third, which was played at Mouteoillo, resulted fri a draw, neither side scoring. Mr Wilson acted as referee.

The Pacific Seoond defeated the High School Second at Tahuna Park by 15 points to nothing. •

The Pacific First and Owaka did not play, .owing to the latter not being able to get a team. , .The meeting between the Fort Chalmers and Star. Football Clubs on the former's ground foalted ia a win for the Port by two potted goals (by T. Hunter) and three tries (by J. m*Qa»BD, Davidson, and Baoohop)— 17 points to a goal from a try (5 points). . Mr Smith satisfactorily controlled the game. Wjlie, fSeonet $), Healey, and King Were the pick of tHe Star.