THE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2426, 12 September 1900, Page 50

THE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

RAYENSBOURNE' WINS THE FLAG. The Alhambra and Raveiisboume ferns met on the Caledonian ground on Saturday to pky off the final match to decide who should hold the Junior Flag for the season. The contest attracted a good deal of interest, the supnorters of both teams being much in evidence. The game proved fast and exciting, and when the wearers of the yellow and black colours returned to the pavilion triumphant they were greeted with SV hearty round of applause for their wellearned victory. A regrettable incident occurred during the match, the referee (Mr Maihone) having to order an Alhambra player "off the field for striking an opponent. During the second spell Low, of the Ravensboume, 'got kicked on the head, and had to be carried off the field. The Alhambra won the toes, and decided to avail 'themselves of the strong breeze blowing from the north end of 'the giound. The Suburban' forwards made the pace hot from the start, -and immediately insraded5 r aded the Reds' territory, and kept them on Ihe defensive." Larkins, Howard, and WatBon eventually broke through with a rush down the field, and for some minutes fast forward play kept the attention of the spectators close on the game. The Yellows yearlyv early in the game began to show how they Uiad been in training for the fixture, and sustained the dash they opened, out with. The showed up capitally in the- loose, 4he backs tackled in splendid style, and, nicled by one or two slices of good luck, they repeatedly staved off impending clanger, although handicapped by the wind- One time the- Reds pinned them up almost under the goal, where two or three tight scrums- ensued, and a certain score to the aggressors seemed imminent ; but the defence was too strong, attd gradually the Ravensboume vanguard (worked their way out and up the field. Larikins, Abrim, and Dodds all made- attempts to place' goals from marks- or penalty kicks, but" without success, and the spelL closed, without & score. On crossing over it was thought that

the Yellows, having the wind with them, would make things very lively for their opponents, but. the Alhambra defence was very sound, and it was not until half-way through the spell that, from a pcrum near the corner, Webber took the ball and slipped over the line amidst great applause. The kick at goal was a failure. From this time on the game continued to be pretty evenly contested, and there Avas no further score. Result : Ravensboume ... 3 points. Alhambra ... Nil.