ALHAMBRA v. DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 46

ALHAMBRA v. DUNEDIN.

The Alhambra aud the Dunedin teams tried conclusions at the Caledonian ground on Saturday, v. ith the lesulc that Alhambra won by 9 points to 3. The Rods won the toss, and decided to play with the stiff northerly wind which was blowing. They at once assumed the aggressive, and a good forward rush, carried the ball to Dunedia's twentyfive, where, after give-and-take play, a passing rush amongst the Alhambra. backs ended in Stcphensou' getting possession and all bnl r-coring He was collared just on the line. Dunedin rallied, and returned the play to the halfway flag. Bennet, securing the ball, kicked too hard, with the result that Dunedin v»as forced. Shortly afterwards the Alhambra forwards got on a good dribbling rush, and A. King, backing well up, scored fh'at blood for the Alhambra, the kick at goal being a failtireThe Alhambra now started to make things very. lively. From a forward rush Knowlcs picked up and punted to mid-field, where Benuet got hold of the leather, and, followingtip his kick v^ry cleverly, scored the second try for Alhambra, Larking' s kick at goal being unsuccessful. . Just before lialf time the Alhambra backs . got on a fine passing rush. The tall travelled through all tho backs, and King eventually scored. Larkius was again unsuccessful with the place kick. The score at half time thus stood : Alhambra 9 points, Bunediu "nil. On resuming play, Dunedin mado ( a very persislcnt attack on tho Alhambra' s lines. The latter, however, managed to shift the play to mid-field, where the backs broke away. Stephenson, being the final recipient, again got to the corner flag but failed to score. A lob of even play followed- in Alhambra' s twenty-live. Subsequently M'Kay, getting the ball, quickly noticed an opening, and, eluding the grasp of the Alhanibra full back, scored a somewhat easy try for Dunedin. His own attempt to convert Mas fruitless Dunedin continued to be very aggressive, and Bennet failing to field the ball gave the Blues another chance. Larkins, however, came to the rescue, and returned play to the half-way flag, where Dunedin were awarded a free kick. M'Kay took a shot at goal, which' went wide. From this to tho call of time Alhambia had the best of the play, and successfully stopped their opponents from Fcorir.g, the game thus ending : Alhambra . . 9 points Dunedin ... 3 points

Southern v. Zixgaei-Richhond.

This match took place at Montecillo on Saturday in the presence of a large crowd of spectator?-. The groxind was in capital order, and the game was fast throughout. Fordyce -non the tosj, and elected to play with tha wind behind him. Olson kicked off, and the ba^l was returned into touch at the halfway flag. From a scrum Austin broke away, and passed to Fordyce, who was well tackled by Casey close to the Southern line. The Southern forwards, headed by King and Willett, got on a dribbling rush, and, aided by a good kick by "Lowry, shifted the play down to the Zinaavi lines. Good line-out work by the Zingari forwards saw the play shifted to the haltway z where, from a scrum, Austin got away, and the ball was passed to Fordyce, Collie, and Fish respectively, the last-named player being thrown into touch by Casey and Lawry close to the Southern lino. From this out the Zingari team pressed their opponents' very hard, and were only prevented from scoring by tho good tackling of tho Southern team, Casey in particular showing splendid defence.

Towards the end of the span Collie secured the ball, and maCe a fins run close lo the line, and parsed to Thomson, who scored near the ccrner. the kick at goal being a failure. Half-time was then called. On resuming play the Southern gave the Ziagari a warm ten minutes defending their lines, until a good dribbling rvsh by ihe lat'or forwards saw the play shiftsd into Southern territory, where it remained for "pretty well the re*l of the ' gams. Time and again the Ziugari team got across the line, but force-downs were the only result. Their forwards, playing with splendid combination, were much too good lor tl.e Southern team, whose forwards were rather light. Towards the close of the game Austin , got fie ball and made another dash for the t line, but vas prevented from grounding the I ball by two of the Southern team. Time was [ called with ths score ■ Zingari-ilichmond 3 points Southern nil. Uxirsp.eiTr v. Pirates. The abo/c match was pliyed on tbe Cari<<-bi-ook ground on Saturday in i he jj^eaSiice of a moderate miiiiber cf spectators. The ground being very slippery and hca~ 7 y, rrevented a 1 good exhibition of fool ball; \vhiio back \)lay \uj out of the question. Fcv some time after the uvir, spsll coir.meiiced the play was con- , fined to the 'Trinity twenty-five. Tho Blues ( at \en«th got away' with a dribbling rush, and took the leather ir-to the Pirates' territory, , where &(/uir wa-> formed. The University obtained possession from the i=crum, and initiated a parting rusli, from which Qrbell soorad, the kick a J . goal proving unMiccsssful. 'I he rest of the game was a _f orward one till the end of tho spell. In the second spell both sides were forced down several times in consequence of dribbling rushes, but no score was made, although the Pirates had decidedly tho best of the game. Scores: University ... 3 points Pirates .. nil.