THE RUGBY GAME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 35

THE RUGBY GAME.

The firsb match of bhe season between the Dunedin and Union Clubs, which was played onthe Caledonian ground, abtracttd considerable ttentlon oa Saturday, and was witnessed by * arg c number of spectators. The Blues pl»j«A

fox the first spell from the harbour end, &nft thus had the advantage of a strong wind. They had, however, none the bert of tho plaj In its opening stages, the Union forwards thus early in the game showing their superiority, but chiefly through Mason's instrumentality the Beds wore eventually placed on the defensive, and Mason, again securing possession, made an opening and passed to Driver in front of the goal, (tad the latter transferred opportunely to Stcphenson, who ran in near the corner. Meson failed with the kick at goal. Flay being resumed, tbe Reds' forwards swept their opponents before them in a series of loose scrums and, their effort* being supplemented by a good )run by Carroll, they attacked warmly for ..Several minutes. Gibson, marking plac&d the ball for M'Lennan, nhoße kick was ineffectual, but, Johnetone muffing the ball, the Blues were it a tight corner until Stephenson relieved with D, long kick well followed up. The Blues' baoks again proved troublesome to the Union, and knocking on twice in r&pid succession spoilt passing rushes that promised to produce tries. And the remainder of the firet spell was fought out between the Union line Ind the half-way flag. Almost (us soon as they crossed over the Rods became aggressive, Armstrong and Smith taking tbe ball to the Dunedin line. Beadle twice tried "on bis own " to get over, but on ] each occasion wrs foiled, and Lumb potted fruitlessly. After sjm? give-and-take pUy the Beds were awarded a J'ree in their opponents' quarters, but M'Lennan was unlucky with the kick, the ball hitting an upright just at the j angle of the crossbar and rebounding, and after the- metre that followed Rogerson headed » dribbling rush of Blues whuih took, the play past ihe centre. Armstrong and Gibson, however, promptly returned ; to the attack, and from a scrum about the line the ball came out to Smith, who burrowed through and gained a try, whioh was not improved. Play had hardly been resumed before M'Lennan had an ineffectual kick' from a free, j and the Blues were thrice forced in quick , succession — once from a stupid attempt at j potting. Then a diversion was created, m few minutes before the termination of the game, by a charge up tho field by the Dunediu forwards, with Williams in the vau, and this gave rise to the hopes that tbo Blues would after all succeed in drawing, but Drumm muffed the ball on Armstrong kicking it down to him and, tbe Reds again reaching the line, Smith repeated bis previous achievement, Booring in a good position. M'Lennan this time kicked the goal, and Mr .Downes then blowing his whistle, tbe match euding : Union ... 8 points Dunedin ... 3 points The match Kaikorai v., Alhambra, was played on the G&risbrook ground on Saturday in the presence of a fairly large-; number. Mr F. Campbell was referee. In the first spell the Alhambra were very sorely I pressed, but the greasy state of the ball prohibited anything like good passing being indulged in, and as, of course, matters did not improve as the game advanced, play throughout was practically confined to the forwards. Tbe Alhambra were forced several times, and tbe Kaikorai forced once. In the second spell tbe gome was a little more open, and the backs on both' sides w.nt in for a lot of kicking. From a eorum in the' Alhambra'B twenty-five Sinclair secured the leather, and, after beating a couple of the opposing men,. passed cleanly to Duncan, who, eluding Ro»s, crossed the line. Murphy's kick at' goal was a failure. No further score resulting, the game thus stood : Kaikorai ... 3 points Alhambra Nil. Tbe match between the Zingari-Richmond and the Pirates football teams, took place at Montecillo. Tbe match was a very warmly contested one, hut the Pirates did not show nearly such good form as they did on the previous Saturday in the match with the Union. In the fi»t spell they were at a disadvantage, inasmuch ac they bad to play against the wind, but even when the positions of the teams were reversed tbe Blaqks did not show up co well as before. Alter about five minutes' play in the first spell M'Farlnne got possession of the leather and passed to Reid, who, with a good run, orosied the opposing lines. The score, however, was not enhanced. For some considerable time subsequently the play was of a give-and-take character. At length the ball wai transferred to the Colours' territory, and although the Pirates werenearly looringsoveral times, the oplendid defence of their opponents prevented them from doing so. In the second spell the Pirates had decidedly the worst of the play, the ball being confined for the greater part of tbe time within their ground. Their lines were also nearly invaded several times, and although fcheir defence was as determined as that of their opponents in the previous spell, it was not quite io successful, Gregory on 'one occasion getting poisesiion from a lapse scrum formed near the line and oroseiog before anybody eeemad aware of what he was up to. M'Furlane took tbe kick at goal, bub did nob improve nftttors, and the game ended without any further score being made on either side. Scores: • J . • Ziugari-Richmond 6 points Pirates ... Nil. The first match between the Caverihaii and University Clubs took place at St., Olair on Saturday, and considering the weather the ground was in fair order. In the first spell the 'Varsity kicked off. M 'Kersey returned, »nd give-and-take play followed. Stalker broke •way, and good passing took play into the | 'Varsity's quarters, but it was brought back to j the centre. Subsequently O'Shea passed to Cran, who transferred to Maodonald, but that player was grassed when within a few yards of the line. Some good .kicking on the part of Cavorsham relieved, and for a time neither team oould be said to have any material advantage. , Tbe 'Varsity forwards, headed by O'Neill and Shand, gob on a fine rush, and kicked hard over the full back's head, but Lawry relieved .with a good kick into touch. After this the Caversham men got on tome good rushes, Stalker, Spence, and Clarke making desperate efforts to cross the line, but good defensive play prevented a scote. The 'Varsity having invaded Caversham's territory, Foote, O'Neill, aud Bray »tart«d a fine rush, and were within an ace of .scoring, but Lawry snapped up the leather and jiaved. Play was central when half time was called. During the second spell a strong wind wai blowing in favour of the 'Varsity team, who went in for hard kicking and following up, and gave their opponents a merry time of it. From a ecrum O'Shea picked up the ball and scored between the posts, Cran failing to convert. After this Stalker was prominent with a fine run, and passed to Goodman, but the latter Sailed to take the leather and Cran relieved isvjth a fine kick. The 'Varsity subsequently idtibbled the ball over the line and a score was )only prevented by the timely intervention of 31/ awry. A nice piece of passing between Simpson, M'Kersey, and Milburn carried the ball into the ' Varsity's twenty-fire,' bub no score resulted up to the call of time, the game ending : University ... 3 points Cayeriham... ;.. Nil

The Unien Second defeated the Dunedin Second by 6 points to nothing. Tbe University Second defeated the Caver* |ham Second by 27 points tfo nothing. ' She High School team. auE&iaea their first

defeat at the hands {or feet) of the Kaikorai Seoond on Saturday on the Asylum ground, the Kaikorai winning by 3 points (a try soored by Canning) to nothing. Mr Foster as referee gave satisfaction. Melrose claim the match against Port Chalmers by default. The Paoifio goored a win over the Star at Tahuna Park by 3 points (a try obtained by Mitchell) to nothing. Mr A. Cooper controlled Ihe game in his usual efficient manner. The matoh Cavereham Third v. High School Second, at St. Clair Park, resulted in a win for the former by 10 points to nothing. Smith and Bu'-sell scored tries, Piddington converting both. Mr A. R. Lawry was referee. All Saints' met the Kaikorai Juniors, and an exciting game, of which the All Saints' bad much the best, resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. The Bellevue Second defeated the Alabama First by 27 points to nothing.