RUGBY. Union V. Zingari- Richmond.

Otago Witness, Issue 2317, 28 July 1898, Page 42

RUGBY. Union V. Zingari- Richmond.

Tha return match between the Uuioa and Zingari Rich mend Clubs, payed on the Montecil!o ground, attracted a largo number of spectators, who braved the naoEt cheerless weather in order to wi'.nefs a ccntest of which the ifKue waa in doubt until the moment when, the referee (Mr K. D. Isaacs) finally blew his whistle. For the greater portion of the hour-and-n-halF* play a thick drzzle drifted across the ground from the south-wfet, and this, while it caused a cumber of the spectators to Fet k the shelter of tho hedges on the windward side of Eglinton road, h&d the tffecii of making the ball very greasy, and, as the grcutid was heavy in places from the start, the game, as might be expected, became virtually one for the fu-wards on both sides. The Union players were late iv appearing, Rnd the referee had b'own two or three warning whistles be fore A. Fordfjjae kicked tff for tbe Zmgari-Richmoud (Colours) from the cemetery end. The Reds speedily afi»umed the effer-sive, and a somewhat lucky kick by Lo^tiU' sent the ball out; a few feet from the corner flag. Fsully handling of tbe ball by tho back 3 and a fruitless drop ab goal wera not the support that the Union forwards bad a rig hi) to expect, and for a time the Reds were fce.U-n b.ick aud the Colours had a turn at a£greb?ive tactici, but thft Union, w'aoee fbtwxrds almost invariably secured £osi?esMon in the gcruainiajre, again bora down on thair cpponenV line, and eventually Duncan, by smart backing up, nipped up the ball and, before tbe Colours realised what was happening, daahed over the line. Lumb failed with the kick. The Rt:ds continued to hold the upper hand for a wbile, but a Bpicndid rueb by the Colours' f or^ ards not only cSesrcd the drend«d south-es sfc corccr bui; was oi,ly stopped in frout of febe Ufi&n' goal, vthera a free kick waa placed for Macfarlaue, who registered a goal, and with the .'cores equal the sidea charged ends. After s:.me give-and-take play in the second spell a strong rush by the Colours' forwards twf pb the ball across the Unicn Ifnee, and though tha latter team's b*eka had the chance fco kick the ball dead they neglected it, bufc oue of ih> m dribVle^ ib on a few yards, and Hobbs then fill on it, and ths referee, having satfefiad himself that this had ccciured within the deadball lino, awarded a try, which wa3 not converted. With the possibility of defe.it staring them in ths fac?, the Reds pressed their opponents very severely. On one occasion they drove the ball over the Colours' lino, but. the latter's backs ma.de no mistake, one of them kicking tho ball far t#hind. A few minutes after this R Fordyce, playing fullback for the Colours, faired to lake a high kick, and W. Baadle and Logan charging down, the Zirsgari line was crossed, and Stalker obtained a try, which, being not improved, equalised sccrfs once more. ShorHy aflor this W. Beadle broke away from mid-field, and alter running to aboub the Colonrt' tweutyfive hue. punted into the centre of the field, and the Reds seizing th& opportunity got to the Zingsri Hue, but the defenders escaped 1 with a touchdown. The Reds continued to press but shortly before time was called the Colours cleared their lines 1 with a fiae effort, and were attacking when ths game was ended, !'he scottia beiug : Union.., ... 6 points Zingari. Richmond G points CAVEESH'AJ! V. PIItATES. The Cavershata Club met the Pirates fit the Cariebrook ground 1 on Saturday, and were defeated by 12 points to 3. The visitors defcuded the southern goal against the wind. In the fir&t spell, the Pirates, who weub in for hard kicking, kept their opponents beyond fcha halfway flag in the earlier part of the game, and after * good deal of tiaht wovk iv front of tho

Posts the home team were awarded a free kick, which Mathesou improved. Caveraham rallied, bufc were again eoou in trouble, and from c, loose scramble Stalker enappsd up tho bail* and cros«ed fche line. Matheson made a good bu'; ineffectual attempt at goal. From this to the end of the srell things were more even. In tire second spell Matheaon kicked off, ar.d Wilkins returned well down tho field. Caveraham gob on some fine rushes, iv which Olson, Cavansgh, and Paull were prominent, and a free kick was given against the Pirates, from which Casey paced a splendid goal. Soon aftar this, thiongh sonis of the Caversbam backs failing to take the ball, tho opposiug backs carried the oval to within a few yardj of the lino. Seme fpleudid attacking play followed on the part of the home team, and the visitors were forced. The greaEy state of the ball favoured the Pirates, who were superior iv dribbling, and they came away in fine stylo. As a result of otic of these rushes Stalker scored his sreond try, but the kick at gosl failed. The weight of the homo team now be^an to tel, and from this cut they had the b-st of ib. From a scum the Pirates gained j'O'se?sioD, and kicked hard across the .fl-i!d, tho ball going acros? the line, and La*vrry j'ist managed b~> beat Kingston on the run, and kicked out of bound 3. M'L c od shortly after dr.bbled over lha line, and scorad, Priest failing to convert Scoie : Pirates ... 12 points Caversham ... 3 points

Alhamhra v. Dunedin,

The mft'ch Alham' ri v. Dunrdin was plsyed on tho Caledonian ground on Saturday, and was wi'nessed by abou 1 ; 300 spec'ators. Rain having set in an hour previous to the gam-? commencing the ground waa very heavy ; nevertheless thf spectators were treated to a very fast and inUr's'irg gsme. Hobson ninniug the toss from Williams the Reds pbyed from the soaih'eud, with the wind ah their bicks. For the firsfc h-\if-hour pliy w?s of ». v«ry tveti character. F-oii a throw-out in front ol the Dunedin line. D M'Kswen managed to sec amble over, and Miipon converted. Nothing of interest cccurrfd du;iag the remainder of tha Drst spell. O.) changing end* the B'ues weie at once set d*fe.\dinj», but chiefly through the agency of Siohr, Elder, und Mackenzie \>\& pfay was sbiftr-d i-.to the A'hambra territory. The B'ucs, «ho had been plajiag all through with gceat dash an-1 de'ermination, now g.-we the Reds an auxLus time, and seemed Jike scoring several time.", but threw away their cbances. Through the remainder of the spell the Red 3 were kept vary busy, but no further score resulted. Thesoore tbui sbood : Alhambra ... s points D.mediu,,. ... Nil

Otbkr Matches

The match Oaversbam Second v. Northern, played at Froser's Paddock, resulted in a viclory for the former by 9 points (three trios) to nothing. Paterson, Miscall, smd Healey scored for the Avmners. Mr Ritchie gave satisfaction as referee.

R df rtated Ziugari-R c'ltn'Mul II by 14 points to ni'. Tries were ob A'nod by Forgufon (3) &v<i Todd, one of vrbicli was converted by F*-rgU3on.

The Pacific defeated fche Union Second by 18 po'nts (-ix trie-) to nil. For tiie wianers M'K%y (3), Mill?, Muling, and Nsili scored tries.

A mixtd team from tie Fort Chalmers C ; ub consisting of 13 icen. ra^ ard dbi'e&ted the' Alhambra Stc^nd nb Opoho. Porf, dribbling the ball nearly the full length o? the ground, crossed the Alhambra l'ne reared. No goal re-ulted from the kick, and Alhambra failing to t core, the Port proved the victors by a try (3 points) to nil. Tho win was a m-ritorious one, &s ouly three of the Port Firsfe were playing.

Ravensbourne Second defeated A'hambra Tnird by 10 points to nil. Tries were obtained", by Grant and Oobornp, while Erridge potted a goal.

•Pacific Stcoad played Northern Second at St. Kilda, and a fast garno resulted in a win for the Pacific by 17 point? to nil. "WiHetb, Marks. Ryan, Gibbs, Harley, ?,ud Pine played well for the Tinners.

The Bay Vitw claitu the match agaiost the North-E-st Vallf-v by default.

The Port Chalmers School met and defeated Green Island School on the Asylum ground by 73 points- to nothing.