SECOND GRADE FLAG MATCHES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 42

SECOND GRADE FLAG MATCHES.

The following shows the positions of the leading teams in the second grade matches: — Alhambra, 21; Union A, 20; Kaikorai, 18; Ravensbourne, 18 $ Port Chalmers, 16; Pirates A, 15'; Union 'o,. 14.

I This match was played at Bishopscourt in the presence of a laTge number of spectators. Kaikorai won the toss and Alhambra kicked off, the game .centring in the .twenty-five, until a -good kick by Jackson re- . moved the play to neutral territory. Both teams were playing well, tho ball travelling from one end of the field to the other very rapidly, until at last the Alhambra rushed the ball over the line, Larkins scoring a try. The same player took the kick, but failed to convert. Half-time was called shortly afterwards. In the second fcpell the Alhambra forwards assumed the aggressive from the commencement, but the defence ni the Kaikorai backs was too good. Jackson at length relieved his side with a good kick. The Kaikorai now had a look in, but Wilkinson threw away a certain try through not passing, and Peake came to the rescue with a good kick. The Alhambra had one or two kicks at goal in good positions, Larkins on one occasion just misbing the goal, but only a force i down resulted. Play remained about the centre of the field until time was called. The game was mostly confined to the forwards, and there was very little to choose between | them in scrum work, but in the loose the Alliambra had the advantage. Of the Alhambra backs Pimm, Peake, and Lurking played a good game, while among the forwards M'Cnlloch, Breen, and Ferens were about ihe pick. For the Kaikorai, Jackson, Williamson, and Edwards showed out prominently among the "backs, and of the forwards, Smith (2), Adamson, Davie, and Ballantyuc played a hard game.- Mr W.-Mahono acted as f 6fei'ee to tho satisfaction of both side?. ' Alhambra ~- 3 points. Kaikorai .„ nil.

The Wnion A- met and defeated tlie .ZingariRichmand- at^fontecillo on- Satin-day by 8 points to nil. - The • game was keenly contested- throughout, the passing jamong-St the Union' being very.. good. Well on' in the second spell Davis scored a try, Howißon converting. Shortly after Heron scored, but Wenborn's kick at goal w»- unsuccessful. Davis' try was the outcome .of a good piece oi passing by the Union backs. Howißon, Kilgour, Clark, Stewart, and Davis were the pick

of the Union team, Wallace, Strang, Black, Patrick, Connell, and Procter playing well for the Zingari. Mr T, Scuri officiated a^ referee. The match between the Pirates A and Southern Second took place at Fraser's paddock, and although the ground was in a very bad condition, a very fast and interesting game took place. The Southern, winning the toss, played with the wind and sun at their backs, and more than once looked dangerous, but the sound defence of the Pirates prevented any score, and when the whistle went for halfI time there was no score on either side. On resuming the second spell the Pirates gave the I Southern a warm time of it. Their forwards j played with great dash, and took everything I before them. Shortly after the beginning of j the second spell Hogg kicked a splendid goal from a mark for the Southern, while Hutton scored for the Pirates after a dribbling rush, and Hislop enhanced the score by a fine kick. Shortly after resuming play Hutton again scored for the Pirates at the corner flag, but Hislop failed with the kick. The Southern warmed up and gave the Pirates a busy time defending. Shortly before time Southern were awarded a free kick, from which Hogg again placed a splendid goal. Time was called shortly afterwards, with the Pirates victors by the narrow margin of one point, the scores being 8 points to 7. For the Southern backs Hogg, Paris, Wilson, and Smith played well, and M' George, M 'Alpine, Clark, and Hislop did best in the rear division of the Pirates. As "to the forwards on both sides it would be unfair to single out any player, as one and all played a hard game. Mr Alexander made a most satisfactory referee. Ravensbourne and Union C met at Ravensbourne, the latter being defeated by 8 points to nil. Tries were scored by H. Willis and J. Low, while A. Low converted, one of the j tries. High School won the -match against Union B by default. Other Matches. Southern Third played their final match for the season against Port Chalmers Second, at Port Chalmers. The game resulted in a win for the former by 6 points to 3 points. The match was evenly contested. The splendid passing of the visitors gave the home team a large amount of defensive work, but with two exceptions they proved equal to the occasion. For the winners Alexander, at full back, played very safely. Smith- was the pick of the three-quarters, his two tries being the outcome of two fine passing rushes. Itcohe, j»t five-eighths, deserves special mention for allround play, and should he follow up the giune he must imdoubtedly make a name for himseif. J The forwards all played a hard game, Turnbull. M'Dermott, and Le Brun being most noticeable for the home team. Ward, who Lad been playing all tho season with the Dun- j edin Club, placed a goal from a penalty kick. An appeal is to bo lodged against this score, which is the only three uointp scored against this team this season, as the folio-wing record will show : — Matches played, 10 ; won, 10 (two by default) ; points for, 209 ; against, 3. Mr D. Ritchie controlled the game. High .School Second defeated Zingari-Rich-mond Third by 26 points to nil. Orient defeated Sunbeam by 6 points to nil. The Orient 'were far superior to their opponents in -every part of the game. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. The ipllowing table shows the positions of senior teams for the Charity Banner ; — Matciics. Goals. £ . li . 5 ."a S P* j? Hi P F*< «J P Northern .., 5 4 0 1 11 6 9 Roslyn. 5 3 1 1 13 5 7 Southern 5 2 0 3 10 6 7 Green Island ..5023 5 7 3 Wakari ..5032 5 11 2 Mornington ..5032 5 17 2 Note. — A semi-final will now have to be played between Roslyn and Southern, and tho winners will meet the Northern in the final. NOKTHEBN V. SOTJTHEKX. The above match v.-as played at Wakari Park, and as it practically decided the Southern's chances of competing in tho final with the Northern a keenly-contested game was expected, nor were the large number of spectators who assembled to witness the game disappointed, as both teams supplied a splendid exposition of the fast and open game, which kept them in a warm state of excitement right up to the finish. Southern won the toss, and elected to play with the sun and a slight breeze afc their back?. Sligo set the ball rolling, passing to Siedeberg, who sent it back to Sligo, and the latter took it clo&e to the Southern goal. Hard kicking by the Southern backs shifted the play to Northern territory, where it remained for some time. : Tho Southern pressed Northern very" hard, the capital defence of the Northern backs saving repeatedly. The_ Southern were at last rewarded for their persistent efforts, J. Nagle putting in a 'beautiful shot from the right wing, which Young made a good, but ineffectual, effort io stop. The Northern now, had a turn, their forwards taking the ball to Southern goal, where Irvine sent in a hard shot, which struck the post and rebounded. Sligo then had a shot, but the ball stuck in tho mud in front of the goal. Morrison also made a good attempt, but the goalkeeper cleared nicely. Southern, by hard kicking, again brought play to Northern territory, and i their forwards gave Young a very busy time ' defending his goal. They were at last successi ful in scoring a well-deserved goal. The ball ! coming in close proximity to the goal, Young 1 ran out and fisted the ball to save, but Paton, ! being handy, sent in a splendid shot from the , left wing, and landed a goal before Young \ could recover his position. Half-time was ! fchorfily afterwards sounded, -with Southern 2 j goals. Northern nil. As was generally expected the Northern had all the best of the second ; spell, the passing rushes of their forwards ! at times being really brilliant. Shortly after ; tho commencement who were atj tacking strongly, penned the Southern in goal ; Clark sent "in a fast shot, which rebounded off the goalkeeper to Morrison, who i promptly landed the ball between the posts. j Play wass now mostly confined to Southern I territory, the Northern playing with magnifi- ' cent combination ; but the excellent defence j of Ashton, Naglc (2), and Sparrow prevented I tho Northern scoring. A good piece of play by the Northern backs again penned Southern in goal, and Seideberg made a good attempt, the goalkeeper fisting out to Irvine (who was I undoubtedly playing the bept forward game on the ground!, and the last-named drove- in a •beauty, -which completely beat the goalkeeper. With the Fcore now equal the Northern tried hard to score again, but the Southern backs' defence was all that could be desired, and the game -ended in a draw, both sides scoring 2 goals. Mr G. M'Millan made a most impartial referee. Jtjxioh Cup.

The final for the cup, for which the Green Island and Mornington Seconds ar« elieible.

f will be played at Waicari Park on Saturday next. , J The long-looked-for match between the , Morninglon First and Mornington Second was ' played at Montecillo before a. fair, gathering ; of spectators, and -resulted in a win for the Second by two goals to one. At the com- j j mencement of the game the First looked lik« t running over their opponents, but the Second ' ■ soon showed their ability to defend, A. HanI nah and B. Sparrow showing up conspicuously. The First, however, from a good return by Scoular, were enabled to score first-" blood, Lainehbury piloting the leather through. From this out to the end of the ! first spell the game was of a give-and-take ; nature, being only noted for its slowness.- In | the second spell the Second began to play , their fast passing game, and soon threw their j opponents on the defence, where they kept | 1 them almost 'thf wholo, of tne second spell. ' j S. Hannah made a beautiful shot at goal, , I which was saved smartly by Whalen, who had ■ played a splendid game all through. Burt, however, returned, and, passing to Lochhead, a tussle ensued in front of the goal, which j enabled "Wise to send in a sharp shot, beating I the goalkeeper. Soon after the kick-off | another passing rush was started, and Muir put in the winning goal by a long shot. Both, teams , were fully represented, and the Seconds undoubtedly had the best of the game. For the losers, TVhalen (in goal), ! Scoular (back), Allen (half), Lainehbury, and M'Donald (forwards) all played a good game ; while to name a man for the Second would be an injustice to the others, their combination being perfect. Mr C. Martin refereed

in a very creditable manner.

THE ST. BATHANS TEAM IN TOWN,

A match, was played on the JSTorth ground last Thursday between a mixed team, representing tlie Union Club and a team from St. Bathans. The ground could hardly have been in worse order, the yurfaee being a quagmire of sticky mud. Anything like scientific football was out of the question, and the game was an \minteresting exhibition of scrum work and forward play. The visitors won the toss, and elected to play from the south' end, which gave them the advantage of the wind. During the first spell play was chiefly in the Union's; quarters, and St. Bathans had the advantage. Several times they preyed their opponents very hard and scrums were formed on the line, but they could not manage to score. In the second spell, the Union put their op2ionents on tho defensive at the outset. Peake obtained a mark in a good position, but the :

kick at goal was a failure. St. Bathans theij" rallied and carried-the ball to the Union lines, where a force down resulted. A few minutes later the ball was dribbled up to the line, and O'Hara obtained possession and slipped over.The attempt at goal was fruitless. From this point onward the game got fairly fast. From a scrum about the centre of the field Duthie got the ball and started a passing rush th'afc ended in Armstrong scoring- after-a fine-run.. This was about the only bit of back play thafc took place throughout the match. No goal resulted. On resuming the Union were again, put on the defensive, and were kept very busy guarding their lines for about 10 minutes, when Mr G. M'Laren, referee,- called time. The game thus ended: - Union... 3 points. St. Bathans ... 3 points. The St. Bathang and University teams met last Friday afternoon, when the country team found that they had struck a much better . ground than the one they had to play on on' the previous day. This advantage was- to some extent nullified by the weather; no sooner had the match started than a blinding hail shower came on, followed by light snow. Rain continued to fall throughout the gama which was shortened by 20 minutes. Aided by the wind the visitors made things lively from the start, and pressed their opponents hard. The 'Varsity defence, however, proved equal to the strain, and although they were forced down twice, a score was averted. Forward play prevailed throughout the spell. On changing round, the St. Bathans team held theii own well for a quarter, of an hour, and then the superiority of the light Bluee was manifest. Some good passing took the ball close to the visitors' lines, near the corner flag. A minute or two later Gibson emerged from a general scramble, and .carried the ball ovev. O'Shea kioked a pretty goal. On resuming, the 'Varsity put in some more good back play and eventually O'Shea got, possession, and as the result of a fine run, scored behind the posts. Taking the kick himself he brought up the major points. Soon after this time was called, without any alteration in the score. Mr G. M'Laren controlled the game to the satisfaction of both sides and the spectators. Final score: University -~ 10 points. St. Bathans... nil..