THE RUGBY GAME. SENIOR FLAG MATCHES,

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 41

THE RUGBY GAME. SENIOR FLAG MATCHES,

Kaikoeai v. University. The Kaikorai and University teams mcl on the Caledonian ground on Saturday afternoon in perfect weather, and provided an interesting game for about 2000 spectators. The TTailrnvni ir^L-orl ntt f,.« m tf,~ XT _•„!,»..«

end, and Maedonald returned the^ ball into touch opposite the stand, where play remained I for some minutes. Gcod passing by the 'Varsity backs took the ball into the Kaikorai's twenty-five, and Orbell made a fine Tun, being only stopped within a few yards of ■the line. The Light Blues kept up the attack, and a free kick to the Kaikorai (brought little relief. Wi Repa made a good attempt to pot a goal. The Kaikorai then •had a look in, and play shifted to the other end of the ground. Williamson lost a good chance to score, and the Kaikorai, being {penalised J>y a free kick to their opponents, •were checked for the time being. From the (throw in, Meredith, failing to take the ball, ■Set the Kaikorai through, and the forwards rushed the ball over the line, where Porteous (fell on it. White might easily have averted this try by forcing down, but was too slow. No goal resulted. On resuming the 'Varsity (buckled to their work, and from a pretty bit of passing Broad, who made a fine run, nearly scored. Had White been in his place he "should have been able to take the ball from {Bioad and secure a certain try for his side. {For handling the ball in the scrum the Kaifccrai had a free kick given against them in a cangerous spot, but Broad's kick at goal, " though good, was in effectual. The first bit of interesting play in the second spell was a fine passing rush by the 'Varsity backs!, v 1 .which White showed up well. Broad had f■; other shot at goal from a penalty kick w? ,-». out success. Play shifting to the other or-':' 4 , i the Kaikorai put three more points to th.-M credit. Sim, taking a pass from Sinclair scored, but Adamson's kick did not augment xh.e score, the ball striking the left post above 'the bar and falling back. A. warm five minutes an the 'Varsity's twenty-five resulted in Wi Sepa being obliged to force down. The {Light Blues "then rallied, and Armstrong, cleverly beating two or three Kaikorai men, got the ball out to M'Ara, and White, taking it from Broad, scored a fine try. No goal resulted, and the score was unaltered when time was called, the game resulting : — 'Kaikorai ... 6 points. University 3 points Southern v. Alhajibea. With the expectation that the meeting of these clubs would furnish a good struggle, a large number of spectators attended at Opoho {Park on Saturday. The ground was in splendid condition, and a fast and interesting game ensued. Southern kicked of£ with the advantage of a slight breeze, and at once carried play to Alhambra's twenty-five, where, for about ten minutes, a lot of give-and-take play took place. Alharnbra then warmed up, and shifted to halfway, ,and shortly afterwards, from a forward rush, Bond scored, Larkins's ,kick at goal going wide. Alhambra continued be very aggressive, and Knowles, securing the ball from the scrum, started _ a fine .passing rush, all the backs handling the .ball, and Stephenson scored a second try for Alhambra, the kick at goal again being a failure. Southern then carried the play to •Alhambra's twenty-live, but the latter's for-.-wards were playing well, and again took matters in hand. From a fine rush down the field Sennet got possession of the ball and passed siieely to Hoosoiy' that player scoring between ; .lhe posts. Larkms easily converted this time. (Southern again rallied, and eventually got < right up to the Alhambra's line, -where, for an infringement, they were awarded a free ■kick, but their shot at goal went wide, and 'Alhambra forced. Play was now chiefly confined to the Sotithern's twenty-five. The Al- ' iiambra backs got in some fine passing, but 'Stephenson lost a good chance, by hanging to the ball. From a sci-tim Knowles got possession of the ball, and from a feint pass to his tiacks, ran in unopposed. The kie'e at goal was fruitless. Half-time was called shortly afterwards with the score : Alhambra 14points, Southern nil. On changing ends Hob"kicked off, and La wry missing the return, 'Southern were forced. Warm play then took place in mid-field, and another passing rush among the Alhanibra backs resulted in J. Dey getting final possession, but was stopped at the twenty-five flag. Southern got on a forward rush, headed by Olson and Allen, the ball travelling down the field at a great rate, but by kicking too hard .they lost thejjall, and Alhambra forced down. Play was now in Alhambra's twenty-five for some time, when Phillips relieved by a good kick into touch at the halfway flag, and the Alhambra backs, with a passing rush, carried play to the Southern's line, where Whinham got o\er, but the Dcor.e was disallowed. Shortly afterwarch Alhambra again got in a strong rush, and W. M'Kewen narrowly missed scoring at the corner flag, a force down eventuating. South- ~" em again warmed up and shifted play to Aliambra's twenty-five, where Knowles got the fcall, and trying a punt over his head, missed it. Olson snapped the ball up quickly and scored for Southern, Goodman failing to convert. Play continued in mid-field for some •time, when, for an infringement, Southern were awarded a free kick. Goodman again ihad a shot at goal, but it fell short and •Knowles marked, and returned with a good kick into touch at the tweaty-five Sag. From this to call of time play was very even, the game ending : — Alhambra ... 14- points.' Southern 3 points. Union v. Pibates. The contest between these two clubs took place on the North ground, and resulted in a -win for the Union by 12 points to nil. In the first spell the Pirates showed up in ,some fine loose rushes, invading tEeir opponents' quarters time after time; but the Union backs, with good passing, always managed to regain the lost ground. Safe tackling by the Pirates' backs prevented any score resulting from these passing runs, except in one instance, when Duthie got the ball into his hands, and made off, passiug to Thomson, ' from whom the leather went to Walker, and then to Bennett, who scored. Gow piloted the ball over the bar nicely. The second spell saw the Pirates with an advantage at the commencement. Sparrow made a dashing run' and dodsjed the Union wing threequarter and full back, but was subsequently^ collared. Bennett made a serviceable run, which took play to the Pirates' quarters, where some hot work ended in the same player picking up smartly and potting a goal. From a, mark Gow kicked at goal, but the attempt Was resultless, and later on, play continuing In the Pirates' ground, M. Priest fumbled the call, and D. Munro, following up smartly, dribbled the ball over the line, where he fell on it. No goal was kicked. No further score was made, and the game ended : \Union ... 12 points Pirates nil Dunedin v. Zingaei-Richmond. . This match was played at Montecillo in the .presence of a large number of spectators. The ground was in good condition, and the game y?as fast and interesting throiighout. Zingari ,Hvon the toss, and Dunne kicked off for Dunedin, who at once took the play into the Zinjgari territory. A good passing rush amongst the backs saw Mackenzie thrown into touch. 'Another 1 good rush by Henderson, Connor, iWatson, and Bragg enabled the last-men-tioned player to get over the line, but he was thrown into touch in goal. The Zingari for.warcjs now asserted themselves, and a com-

bined rush down the field ended close to the Dunedin line. From a scrum, Austin passed to Fordyce, who was thrown into touch right on the line, and hard kicking by the Zingari forwards enabled Dunedin to force. From this out to the end of the spell the play was up and down the field, both teams getting on some good passing rushes. When half time was called Dunedin were attacking. On the game restarting the Zingari forwards swept down the field and, on numerous occasions, were only prevented from scoring by M'Kay securing the ball and kicking splendidly into touch. All through this spell the Zingari were attacking strongly, their forwards completely beating the opposing team. Towards the end of the game their attack became more vigorous, both backs and forwards makingdetermined efforts to score, but were met with a stubborn resistance. With only about three minutes to go, a passing rush between Austin, Fordyce, Collie, A. Smith, and Turnbull ended in the latter being splendidly tackled by M'Kay right on the line, where, from a loose scramble, Abbott snapped up the ball and dropped across the line. The kick at goal was a, failure, and the game ended with the score : Zingari-Richmond... 3 pts. Dunedin ... nil