CHRIST'S COLLEGE v. HIGH SCHOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 61

CHRIST'S COLLEGE v. HIGH SCHOOL.

I The annual football fixture between Christ's College (Christchurch) and Otago ' Hiifh School was played on the Caledonian I Ground yesterday in* the presence of a I fair number of spectators. A bitterly cold wind blew from the harbour end of the ground during the progress of the match, I but notwithstanding this both teams gave ' a really creditable display by backs and '. forwards. College had the advantage of i superior weight. School took the field with I the wind in their favour, and used the : hne judiciously at the commencement. Inen Bruce, Davidson, and Cook were associated in a passing rally which endangered the I School line, but Dennieton came to the rescue in good time, and relieved. A free kick awarded to the School looged play within the College twenty-five, and in attempting to relieve the pressure Saun- : de~* the visitors' full back, kicked high. The ! wind carried the ball backwards over the line, and Thomson, being handy, fell on it, drawing first blood for the School. Psterson failed to secure the additional points The local players forced matters on resuming-, but the only result was two force downs in quick succession. College retaliated with a spirited forward rush, taking the ball well up to the line. Thomson afforded temporary relief, but Rich, obtaining possession, got the ball well away to Davidson, who passed to Crystall and' Manseil beat off any further opposition, and scored at the corner. Saunders failed to place a goal, the scores thon standing ov&n. College returned to the attaok. but without result, and play holered about neutral territory for some time, until Mitchell, Smart, and Thomson broke away and threatened the College line. Th<» College forwards wcrp. however, equal ro tho occasion, and. afrer interesting p!nv, shifted the game to halfway. From a scrum here Dow got the ball away nicely fo his back*, but the tackling cf tho visitors proved an effectual barrier. Patorson ■essayed a penalty goal from halfway for the School without, result. Towards the end of the spoil the College asserted themselves, and. bur for the line kicking by ihe School 1 acks, would doubtless have increased their ecore. Jiwt prior to half time Pat-er^on r,ut in a run. and got within a few yards of the Collogc line, but further danger was successfully warded off. It wns expected that the visitors, with tho assistance of the wind in the second spoil, would run up a very respectable total, bur it wa-3 by no means a runaway match. College attacked with spirit but met with a very stubborn defence. Davidson snapped-

up 1 smartly and transferred play to well within the- School quarters, and- from a serum immediately afterwards Crystall picked up, and running round -the blind side, registered a try. Saunders failed to convert. The School forwards, on resuming 1 , headed by Denniston and _ Cuthill, rushed play up field, but College, making use of the wind, had the game easily in hand. Eventually Bruce got the leather away to Davidson, and it went in turn to Crystall and Hansel], the latter scoring. , Saunders failed to place a, goal from an . acute angle. The School infused plenty of spirit into the ensuing play, and the forwards did come capital work. It was owing to their efforts that the School was successful in warding off further serious invasions into their territory, and occasionally College had their hands full in defending. Towards the conclusion of the spell the visitors' backs gave a splendid exhibition of passing, but the tackling of the local division coped with this successfully, and "no side" sounded with the scores: Christ's College 9 points High School 3 points For the winners Thomas, Rutherford, and Bruges, among the forwards, and Bruce, Davidson, and Rich, of the backs, were most prominent; whilst for the Sohool Mawson, Cuthill, and Denniston played splendid forward games, and Thomson, Mitchell, Smart, and Dow were the best amongst the baoks. Mr Hamel acted as referee. i